14 houses been burnt and two people injured following a renewed attack on Dan-Anacha village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku

Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

At least 14 houses were said to have been burnt and two people injured following a renewed attack on Dan-Anacha village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Residents said the trouble started on Thursday following the directive of Governor Darius Ishaku that the name of a secondary school in the community be changed from Dan-Anacha to Kwararafa.

Mr. Kelvin Katyo of Taraba Tiv Youth Council told our correspondent that Governor Darius Ishaku had on the 15th November 2019, in a letter through the Executive Secretary Post-school Management Board directed the name change which did not go down well with the members of the community.

According to him, students of the school who were not comfortable with the name change staged a protest demanding that the Governor reverted the decision but were attacked by irate youths.

“The Chief of Tiv in Gassol, Zaki Erentsa Simon, had prevailed on the Tiv people in the town to remain calm after the protest.

“But in the night, some people suspected to be Governor Ishaku’s sympathisers attacked and burned 14 houses belonging to the Tiv people in the town.

“We wonder why the Governor is doing what he is doing now. We don’t need a name change now because it will further escalate tension in the State,” he said.

Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, said he was not aware of the development, but promised to get back to our correspondent which he was yet to do as of the time of filing this report.