At least three persons were  killed and another 15 seriously wounded when yet-to-be identified gunmen  attacked a traditional gathering in Maisamari area of Mambilla in the Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Reports say the gunmen struck in the wee hours of Monday when the locals gathered to celebrate their annual festival firing sporadically and killing three persons on the spot.

A fleeing resident who simply identified himself as John said: “We were about to wind up, some people had actually gone to sleep at about 1.00 am and then from nowhere over ten gunmen struck and started shooting.

“Instantly, three people were killed and over ten rushed to the hospital,” he added.

The victims were all rushed to the general hospital located in Gembu where the injured are currently receiving treatment in the emergency ward while the dead have since been evacuated to the mortuary.

Residents of Maisamari had been living in total fear since last year’s attack on Fulani communities that left more than a hundred people dead, and which was blamed on the Mambilla tribes.