Benue/Taraba: NASS Members Synergise To End Border Killings

Members of the House of Representatives from Taraba and Benue states are to synergise their efforts in ending banditry, kidnapping, and other insecurity activities that have, in recent years, bedevilled the border areas of the two states.

The member representing Takum/Donga/Ussa federal constituency in Taraba state, Hon. Mark Useni, stated this while responding to the killings of seven travellers at Sai village along Takum Wukari road on Monday by gunmen suspected to be bandits operating at the border areas of the two states.

The seven travellers, including a Registrar of the College of Health and Technology Takum, Mr. Abba Ayuba, a secondary school Principal Mr. Samuel Mbapuun, the driver of the vehicle and four others were ambushed and killed at gunpoint within Sai, a village bordering Katsina/ala and Ukum from Benue state and Wukari and Takum from Taraba state.

So far, the bandits’ activities have sent several people away from the area, hindering farmers from freely embarking on their yearly farming activities.

In a press statement issued in response to the killings, Useni called on the government of the two states (Benue and Taraba) to implore strong synergy toward ending the killings and tackling the insecurity at the border areas.

“I condemn in strong terms the brutal killing of 6 commuters along Takum- Wukari road. This unfortunate incident came a few weeks after the Chief of Chanchanji was murdered together with his son on the same road.

“My heart goes out to the families of the six victims of the dastard act. These criminal elements have also evolved a wicked strategy of following local farmers to their farms to kidnap for ransom. This situation will aggravate the hunger experienced on the land.

“I want to call on communities along the Taraba/ Benue border on both sides to step up local intelligence and vigilance to make work easy for security agencies in protecting the areas.

“While appreciating Taraba state Governor Dr Agbu Kefas’s usual prompt action regarding security concerns, I wish to implore strong synergy between the Taraba and Benue state Governments to tackle the hydra-headed problem.

“As a Representative of the people, I am already reaching out to my colleagues of the two Federal Constituencies on the Benue side to offer our support to the two Governors to secure our people; I, therefore, urge the affected communities to continue to be calm and allow security agencies to contain with the situation,” Useni stated.