By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo

Taraba State police command has confirmed the death of four persons in the ongoing communal clash between rival communities at Kunini, in Lau Local government Area of the state.

It was also gathered that eight persons were injured while several houses were razed in a reprisal attack.

Spokesperson for the state police command, ASP David Misal, who confirmed this to newsmen at a briefing in Jalingo, explained that men of the command killed two of the deceased in a gun battle when ambushed by unknown gunmen, while responding to a distress call.

“On the 2nd August, 2018”, the statement stated, “the Command received a distress call that during a traditional masquerade festival initiation in Wailawa, there erupted a fracas between the leaders of the festival in Waillawa and some people of the community which are of Fulani extraction, resulting to some injuries on two persons who were taken to hospital for treatment.

“However the following day, the Commissioner of Police, CP, David Akinremi psc (+), deployed additional patrol teams to the area to complement the effort of the Divisional Police Officer.

“On arrival a   peace meeting involving community leaders from both sides of the ethnic groups in the area was called. While the meeting was about to start a gun shot was heard from the surrounding communities which heightened   tension amongst residents.