About 50 people lost lives after terrorists launched attack in Gidan Aku community on the outskirts of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, in Northern Nigeria.

About 50 people lost their lives after terrorists launched a pre-dawn attack on Gidan Aku community on the outskirts of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, in Northern Nigeria.

The attack which occurred on between late Monday night and Tuesday morning left  about 50 persons dead and several others injured despite a the dusk to dawn curfew in place.

Witnesses say the attackers had sophisticated weapons and attacked while the residents were asleep.

Most of the community members had deserted the area for fear of further attacks even though a contingent of soldiers and anti-riot policemen has been drafted to return calm to the area.

Luka Agbu, a lawyer in the community, who spoke with Vanguard newspaper, said the gunmen shot sporadically and spared no one.

"[The] attackers were very hostile to us and did not spare even children or the aged," Agbu said.

He also lamaneted the failure of the secuirty forces to prevent the attack despite a dusk to dawn curfew in place.

"The attackers shot at people and burnt houses at the same time without any intervention by the security forces."

Umar said, "It has become imperative to appeal to all the warring factions to lay down their arms and embrace peace. We shall continue to work with all the communities and law enforcement agencies to restore peace to our state."

Meanwhile, Acting Governor of Taraba state, Alhaji Garba Umar, said relief materials have been sent to the affected community w

"We have concluded arrangements on how to visit the internally displaced persons and render immediate succour to them. That is why we have dispatched 28 trailers laden with relief materials to the affected LGAs," he said.

Alhaji Umar also revealed that the attackers came from a neighbouring state.

"Information available shows that the insurgents came from Nasarawa State and they camped at the Coast of River Benue close to Ibi," the acting governor said.

Umar also warned citizens of the state against politicising the unfortunate incident and assist the government in finding a lasting solution.

There are speculations that the gunmen involved in the Wukari attack were Fulani cattle rustlers, who had in the past engaged in clashes  with the  Jukun.

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