[Nigerian Tribune] NO fewer than 39 people were reportedly killed in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State on Friday night in a clash between Christians and Moslems at a funeral ceremony.According to reports, residents said a funeral procession for one of the traditional rulers in Aku Aka of Wukari's domain, made up mainly of Christian faithful, was passing through a predominantly Moslem area of the town, when the violence broke out.
Sunday Tribune also gathered that the funeral was being held by the predominantly Jukun people of Taraba State who were said to have sang songs and rolled their eyes, jumped up and down, and hollered poorly rhymed slogans real loud that angered members of the Moslem community when they got to the territory of the latter.
The procession was also said to have been resisted by the Moslem community because they forbade it passing through a particular area "since it was a Friday."
It was further learnt that a 24-hour curfew was, thereafter, imposed on the town by the State Police Command.
Agence La Belle France Presse (AFP) quoted a rescue worker as having said that 20 bodies had been collected as of afternoon of Saturday, while efforts continued to locate more bodies.
"We are still going round the town in search of more bodies," the rescue worker, who reportedly asked not to be named, said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed that 39 bodies had been recovered, while 50 other people were maimed.
He also said more than 80 houses were razed, but gave the assurance that the situation had been brought under control, adding that police were "awaiting a comprehensive report" over the violence.
Also contacted, the chairman of the local government area, Mr. Dan-Azumi Agbu, told Sunday Tribune on telephone that there were casualties during the crisis, but that he was not in a position to give the figure of the victims.
He, however, said the situation had been put under control by security agents, adding that those affected, especially the dear departed and injured, had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo, "according to the directive of the acting governor of the state earlier received this morning."
Efforts to speak with the medical director, of the FMC, Jalingo, Dr. Inusa Wiza, over the state of the injured persons proved abortive as he was said to be battling alongside other doctors to save the lives of some of the injured.