Residents across eight communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State are reportedly living under the control of suspected bandits, who have allegedly imposed restrictions on their movement, looted their properties 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 extent that residents could no longer freely report attacks or seek assistance for fear of reprisals from the armed groups.
Bobbo also revealed that, 10 out of 15 persons abducted recently in the area have regained their freedom.
Although, he did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their release or the efforts that secured 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, disclosed that 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 9am of Thursday.
Bobbo said, the attackers usually emerge from their forest hideouts in Plateau State to launch attacks on communities in Taraba before retreating to their bases.
He, however, commended the Taraba government for its response to the security challenges, saying it had mobilised local hunters, provided logistics 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 and that they were increasingly helpless in the face of persistent intimidation and attacks.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), ASP Victor Mshelizah, who couldn’t confirmed the incident as at the time of filing this report, said “am still trying to reach DPO old muri for confirmation pls, as dpo Karim didn’t record such incident.”
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