Fear Grips Taraba Residents Over Incessant Killings, Kidnapping

Residents of Taraba State, especially those in rural areas now live in fear as bandits and kidnappers have invaded their communities.

LEADERSHIP correspondent reports that even Jalingo, the state capital and other urban areas are not spared as residents are frequently killed and abducted for huge ransom before they are freed by the criminals.

Among the victims is the traditional ruler of Yukuben in Takum local government area, Udeng Ibrahim, who was recently kidnapped with his son. They were eventually killed in the process.

Also, suspected Boko Haram members attacked Jouro Manu town in Gassol local government area, killing three people and kidnapping six others.

“At about 1:00am on that fateful day at Jouro Nuvo, a sub-urban of Jalingo, the kidnappers stormed the area on foot while the residents were still in bed, there were heavy gunshots,” a resident said.

Another resident of the area, Mallam Saidu Usman, told LEADERSHIP that the attackers rode on nine motorcycles and shot into the market where the victims were killed.

He said, “They came in the afternoon with two people each on a motorcycle and started shooting at anyone they saw.”

It was also learnt from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state that in one week, three vehicles of their members were intercepted by bandits between Tutare and Maraba villages, on the Jalingo-Wukari Highway. LEADERSHIP findings also indicated that two peasant farmers were kidnapped in the operation and were taken to an unknown destination.

A resident of Jouro Nuvo, Mr Aondoasee Akuhe, where the two peasant farmers were kidnapped, said since the incident occurred, the people no longer sleep with their eyes closed, lamenting that the kidnappers are even after the ordinary people.

Akuhe said, “We used to think it was only rich men that were their targets. Now that no one is exempted, we cannot sleep any more. The government should provide adequate security for the people.”

The police public relations officer, DSP Kwache Bajabu Gambo said the command had deployed the Anti Kidnapping Unit to the areas and appealed to the residents to remain calm and report any suspicious persons or strange activities to the security agencies.