Tension is currently mounting in Jalingo, Taraba State capital following the killing of one Babangida Salihu, an Islamic preacher by the police.
PMNews gathered that problem started last week when the police shot dead the Jalingo-based Islamic preacher whom the police described as an armed robbery suspect.
The state Police Commissioner, Nwachukwu Egbochukwu, who displayed the corpse of Salihu at the police headquarters last Friday said that the suspect was killed by the police along Mutum-Biyu-Garba Chede Road while in company of four other suspects who fled into the bush during a search on their vehicle.
The police boss added that the late Islamic preacher who was also said to be a traditional herbalist was travelling in his vehicle, a Toyota Carina, in company of four others at about 9.30p.m. when the police stopped them for a search and found some arms and ammunition in their vehicle.
According to the police commissioner, four of the suspects fled into the bush while the Islamic preacher was shot dead by the police while trying to escape.
There was, however, a twist to the killing a few hours after the corpse of Salihu was displayed on the state television when a Muslim sect in Jalingo, Izala group, claimed that Salihu was not an armed robber as claimed by the police.
The group contended that Salihu was never an armed robber but an Islamic preacher adding that the police killed him because the preacher was trying to expose the secret of some police officers who extorted huge sums of money from some Fulani cattle rearers.
The muslims who vowed to avenge the killing of their preacher began to gather in groups after the Jumat prayer last Friday, a situation which compelled the state police command to draft armed mobile policemen to strategic positions in Jalingo town.
Meanwhile, residents of Jalingo are currently living in fear while rumours of an impending religious war has gripped the town.
PMNews investigation revealed that some police officers have been arrested in connection with the killing of the islamic preacher.