Council chairmen escape robbers’, herdsmen’s attacks in Taraba State

CHAIRMEN of Takum and Wukari local councils of Taraba State, Shiban Tikari and Daniel Adi, yesterday escaped being killed by gunmen in different locations in the state. While the attack on Adi was attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who are not comfortable with the recent implementation of the open grazing law, Tikari was attacked by armed bandits.

Speaking with The Guardian on the telephone, Adi confirmed that he was under severe attack by suspected herdsmen in Gindi Doruwa, a few kilometers to the administrative headquarters of Wukari Local Council.

He said some suspected herdsmen had on Saturday evening attacked and killed a Tiv man on his farm, which prompted him and his security personnel to visit the village yesterday to ascertain the situation.

Wondering why the herdsmen continue to take the laws into their hands, he said, “On sighting me and the security personnel, which included the police and the Civil Defense Corps, the herdsmen opened fire on us but the security overpowered them so they ran away,”

He said three of the suspects were arrested stress- ing that “we apprehended three men who later confessed that they were called for reinforcement by their colleagues whom he described as Fulani herdsmen.”

Those arrested, he added have been taken to the police command in Jalingo for further investigations.

Theguardian learnt that armed bandits, made away with Tikari’s driver but was later released.

Confirming the report, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, said the sad event occurred on Tikari’s way to the nearby Donga Local Council for a thanksgiving service.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal, also confirmed the report, saying the incident in Takum was a robbery attack.

He added that the armed robbers snatched Tikari’s car, maintaining that the attack was launched in Wukari and that details of the attacks were yet to be made available to the command by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Wukari Council.

Although security operatives are working to ensure safety of lives and property, it was learnt that residents of the state now largely live in fear of a repeat of the attacks in the neighboring Benue State.