The Kuteb Youth have drawn the attention of the Federal Government and Nigerians to what is happening in Takum and Ussa local Government Area that is not farmers-herders attacks nor reprisal attacks, as claims by the police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of Nigerian Police, Taraba Command. This is because Southern Taraba do not share boundary with Fulani herders, but it is the large-scale invasion of an innocent group of people by a set of bandits who are nothing other than terrorist, most likely of international origin and high sophistication, with weapons beyond civilian capacity.
Speaking in the Press conference in Abuja, the leader of the group Comr. Ure Caleb Danjuma calls for thorough investigation by Nigerian Police and other security agencies to pay more attention to the situation on ground and report the magnitude of the mayhem as it is, so as to enable government to wade in and curb the menace.
“Over the period of one year till date, Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Developing Area have lost over 250 persons and over 80 Communities have come under severe attacks and are now almost not existing. The land has been overtaken by bandits who are nothing more than terrorists, killing and maiming the innocent souls. Southern Taraba has been taken over by bandits who wield sophisticated weapons on daily basis without fear of confrontation by the security agencies. Where the terrorists got this effrontery from is surprising. Why they have not been repelled permanently by the Nigerian Government is also surprising and most surprising is the fact that the State Governor decides not to pay attention to this crisis”.
Comr. Caleb further said the situation in Southern Taraba is horrific and pathetic. Women and men have lost their lives. Children are now orphans and are left at the mercy of harsh environment conditions. Day in, day out people are displaced. He said the situation on ground requires a large-scale humanitarian support for the displaced persons. Unless Nigerian government arises to this occasion, more villagers will be destroyed, more people will die, more children will become orphans and many more people will be displaced.
“Why would anyone assert with so much confidence that a crisis of this magnitude is herders-farmers crisis when Takum, Ussa and Yangtu do not share boundaries with any Fulani Community? How could reprisal attack or search for rustled cattle lead to destruction of over 80 Communities and killing of over 250 innocent people in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area and Yangtu Special Development Area? We want to put the records straight and bring it to the knowledge of the authorities that the crisis is a terrorist’s attack on all Kuteb villages in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Area and not the spurious and malicious alleged claim by some herders that it is farmers-headers crisis. Headers with such claims are certainly on a mission. Either they are with the bandits or are sympathizers of the bandits. They should be investigated”.
Comr. Caleb also appealed to the Federal Ministry of humanitarian affairs, Nigeria Emergency Management agency (NEMA), Nigeria Border Community Development agency, Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) and various NGOs to come to the rescue of the displaced person who are dying on daily basis due to lack of food, healthcare and shelter.
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