Gunmen have killed seven people in two separate attacks in Wukari and Donga Local Government Areas of Taraba State.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, David Misal, confirmed the attacks and the death figure to Channels Television on Thursday.

He, however, gave assurance that the police command was on top of the situation and has begun a manhunt of those who committed the crime.

Mr Misal added that they were working in collaboration with other security agencies and would not rest until the perpetrators were arrested and brought to book.

The Chairman of Wukari LGA, Grace Daniel, as well as his Donga counterpart, Nashuka Dan-Musa, also confirmed in separate interviews with Channels Television that the attacks were carried out on Wednesday.

According to them, the first attack took place between Tor-Musa and Rafinkada in Wukari when three men travelling to Donga in a 504 Peugeot vehicle loaded with rice heading were ambushed.

The gunmen were said to have killed the men and carted away with their vehicle and the food items thereafter.

The public officers stated that the second attack took place at Annanum in Donga Local Government Area where four men returning from their farms on a tractor were ambushed and killed.

Nashuka explained that due to the tension in the area, the residents could not recover the bodies of the deceased.

On arrival at the scene on Thursday, he said they discovered that the remains have been burnt beyond recognition.

The chairmen of the two local government areas alleged that the Tiv militias were responsible for the attacks.

In a swift response, the President General of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Mr Goodman Dahida, told Channels Television that the attacks were carried out by armed robbers.

He insisted that the criminals had on several occasions blocked the said roads and unleashed mayhem on their victims.

Dahida also used the opportunity to dissociate the Tivs from attacks, stressing that the people were peace-loving and would never commit such crimes.