Five traders were reportedly killed and several others injured when a military vehicle attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Wukari, crashed into traders at Peva Market in Takum local government council of Taraba state.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday afternoon, throwing traders and residents of the community into mourning.
Our reporter gathered that the military vehicle was escorting traders from Wukari to Takum to provide security along the route following recurring incidents of kidnapping and killings in the area.
A resident, Tony David, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, said the victims were among traders who had displayed their goods along the roadside when the military vehicle allegedly lost control and rammed into them.
According to him, the military personnel attached to FOB Wukari had accompanied the traders to the market as part of efforts to protect them, particularly along the troubled Chanchanji axis.
David said five persons were killed in the crash, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He added that the bodies of the deceased and the injured victims were evacuated to Takum General Hospital for treatment and other necessary procedures.
The incident has sparked grief among traders and residents, with calls for a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
There were also unconfirmed allegations that the driver of the military vehicle was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The allegation, however, could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
Peva Market is located within the catchment area of Chanchanji Ward, which has experienced persistent security challenges, including attacks and kidnapping incidents in recent years.
When contacted, Lieutenant Umar Mohammed, Acting Public Relations Officer of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Jalingo, said he was looking into the incident.
“I’m on it. I will get back to you on it soon,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Taraba State Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said he was aware of the incident through a social media post.
Mshelizah said he would contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Takum to ascertain the actual casualty figure and obtain further details.
“I saw a post on the incident on a platform; as soon as I get details of the incident from the DPO in Takum, I will get back to you,” he said.