Following the killing of a community hunters’ leader during a gun battle with suspected bandits, residents of Andamin community in Karim-Lamido local government area of Taraba State have called for urgent security intervention to avert further occurrence.
The deceased hunter, Shuayibu Danladi Ciroma, who is a member of the Forest Guard Corps, reportedly died from excessive blood loss after sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg while responding to intelligence about a planned attack on the community.
Community leader, Tanko Bobbo Andamin, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the incident occurred on Monday evening when a joint team of military personnel and local hunters moved to forestall the suspected attack.
According to him, the team encountered the armed men while advancing towards the area, thereby triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Ciroma was reportedly wounded during the confrontation but was not immediately accounted for when members of the team returned to their base after the encounter.
The community leader said, a search team returned to the scene early the following morning and discovered his body.
Andamin, who extended condolences to his family, the community and fellow hunters, described the deceased as a man who died defending his people and land.
He urged the state government and security agencies to take decisive action against armed groups operating in the area.
He warned that, the deteriorating security situation had increasingly restricted residents’ access to their farms and markets, threatening their livelihoods and worsening economic hardship.
According to the statement, many residents now struggle to undertake farming, trading and other daily activities because of the fear of attacks, a development the community said had deepened poverty, hunger and starvation.
Andamin, also expressed concern over the spread of armed groups across communities in Taraba State, and called for coordinated intelligence gathering and security operations to prevent further attacks.
The community urged the state government, security agencies and intelligence authorities to strengthen security deployments, protect vulnerable communities and restore residents’ confidence.
When contacted over the development, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said poor network connectivity had prevented him from reaching the Divisional Police Officer for confirmation and further details.
He promised to provide an update once he established contact with the DPO.
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