Bandits Hold 8 Taraba Communities Hostage As 10 Abductees Regain Freedom

Residents of eight communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State are reportedly living under the control of suspected bandits who have allegedly restricted their movement, looted their property and threatened to kill anyone who reports their activities to security agencies.

The affected communities, which share boundaries with Plateau and Bauchi states, are Kommodoro, Telejugu, Paskari, Farin-Ruwa, Dinya, Jamaga, Macijin Kirya and Chibi.

A community leader and grassroots mobiliser, Hon. Tanko Bobbo, who disclosed this, said the situation had deteriorated to the point that residents could no longer report attacks freely or seek assistance for fear of reprisals from armed groups.

Bobbo also revealed that 10 of the 15 people recently abducted in the area had regained their freedom.

However, he did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their release or the efforts that led to their freedom.

He said the bandits, who allegedly operate from forest hideouts in neighbouring Plateau State, regularly invade the communities, seize farm produce, loot shops and intimidate residents.

According to him, the armed men have also allegedly subjected women to sexual abuse while threatening to kill anyone suspected of exposing their activities to security operatives.

The community leader said the security situation remained precarious, with fresh attacks recorded on Thursday morning when suspected bandits shot a farmer on his way to his farm between Jebjeb and Kampani, a border community between Taraba and Plateau states.

He added that another farmer sustained a machete injury to his hand in a separate incident at about 9 am on Thursday.

Bobbo said the attackers usually emerge from their forest hideouts in Plateau State to attack communities in Taraba, then retreat to their bases.

He, however, commended the Taraba State Government for its response to the security challenges, saying it had mobilised local hunters, provided logistical support and directed security operatives to protect vulnerable border communities.

He added that the state government was also making efforts to secure the cooperation of neighbouring state governments to flush out the bandits from their forest hideouts.

Bobbo said residents of Kommodoro recently approached community leaders to report that the armed groups had overwhelmed them, leaving them increasingly helpless in the face of persistent intimidation and attacks.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Victor Mshelizah, who could not confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report, said he was still trying to reach the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Old Muri for confirmation. He added that the DPO in Karim-Lamido had no record of such an incident.