An umbrella body of elders from Taraba called Concerned Elders Forum (CEF) has raised an alarm over what they termed as ” an insidious plan to exterminate us uncovered”.
The group in a statement signed by Elder Joshua Ande said that Takum local government has particularly become unsafe for citizens.
The statement reads in part: ” we are worried that the security agencies do not seem perturbed by happenings in Taraba state, especially Takum where the security concern there has reached Red Alerts level. Daily stories of kidnapping and killings is now almost a staple. The southern part of the state is clearly under serious security threat. The southern part of our state is nearer Benue state and shares border with some of the crisis areas of Logo and Guma where Fulani herdsmen recently engaged in acts of pogroms.”
“Since then, our people have witnessed all sort of brigandage and criminality around the the area. Locals reported they saw an helicopter carrying weapons. No one gave this any serious hearing at the top. No statement on that from the security agencies. Before this strange episode that happened in Jibu, Takum local government witnessed one of the most horrendous act of terror in its history. A member of the House of Assembly, Bar. Hosea Ibi was kidnapped and killed. Late Ibi was picked near the military barracks in Takum. This has raised fears that even around the military fortress people are no longer safe. This is a barracks with soldiers, yet gun men are having a field day. Barely days after the burial of the late member, gun men attacked the Takum local government chairman. A lady was killed in the attack. Yet, the barracks and its soldiers looked on.
The following day, an Igbo trader was kidnapped near the barracks again. His fate is unknown now. At Manya too, near the same barracks, another man was killed. Takum has become a killing field even with a barrack in place. So what’s the point having a barrack if security can not be guaranteed?
Our plea therefore is to either investigate all of these or replace the Commanding Officer of the Takum barracks. He has failed to provide necessary security. He must be made to explain all that is happening here. Also, the government claim that it has been calling for a beef up of the military must investigated. Because what we are learning is that the Fulani herdsmen are ready with weapons they received from that chopper and are now ready to strike. This is an SOS. We don’t want to start sounding like Governor Samuel Ortom who showed letters that were ignored when he was crying for help.”
