At least two persons have been confirmed dead following a violent clash over the leadership of the Central Jummat Mosque in Donga, Taraba State.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, reportedly stemmed from a disagreement within the Muslim community over who should assume the position of Imam of the mosque, located in front of the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Donga Chiefdom.
Eyewitnesses told NAN that the dispute escalated into a confrontation between rival groups, leading to the deaths and the destruction of several properties in the area.
“Trouble started after arguments broke out between factions supporting different candidates for the mosque leadership. Before long, it turned violent, and some houses and shops were destroyed,” one of the residents said.
Security operatives, including soldiers and police officers, were swiftly deployed to the town to restore order and prevent further escalation of the crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Taraba, ASP Leshen James, could not be reached for comment, as calls and text messages to his phone were not answered.
Normalcy has reportedly returned to the area following the intervention of security agencies, though tension remains high among residents.
