No less than 10 people were reportedly killed in fresh communal crisis in Taraba State, North Eastern Nigeria.

The Nigerian police however said only six persons lost their lives in the clashes between the Fulani and Mummuye ethnic groups in Lau Local Government area of the state.

Reports say there had been pockets of violence and reprisal attacks in communities in the area between Friday and Saturday last week during which 8 persons were reportedly killed.

The clashes had been between the Mummuye and the Fulani communities of Lushi, Sakuwa, Hore Ladde and Garin Dogo areas.

Tuesday’s violence reportedly started around 2 a.m. when Bonja and Mayo-Kunga, two Fulani villages, were attacked by suspected Mummuye youth.

The attack on the Mayo-Kunga village led to reprisals attacks on neighbouring communities.

Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, confirmed to newsmen that only six people were killed in the conflict.

“Since the Friday attack between the Fulani herdsmen and Mummuye farmers in Lushi, there have been reprisal attacks.

“For now six persons were confirmed killed on both sides while several others have been arrested,” he said.

The PPRO also said that 80 houses were torched in the crisis.

This development is coming barely a week after the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, was quoted in the media as urging Christians across the country to defend themselves against terrorists before they are annihilated.

Ishiaku reportedly made the call in Jalingo during a thanksgiving service by the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, to celebrate the New Year and to pray for victims of Southern Kaduna massacre and other victims of terrorism across the country.

“The people must wake up from their slumber and defend themselves. You can’t just lie down and allow yourselves to be annihilated by other groups,” the governor was quoted as saying.

“You have a constitutional right to self-defense and now is the time to use it. The government alone cannot do it,” he said.