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Concerned members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives from Taraba state have revealed details of the hideouts of suspected militia and armed herdsmen who unleash terror on their communities, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to authorise the deployment of the military to the state with a view to forestalling another national disaster.
According to them, the attackers are camped in Awe, Tunga, Wuse in Nasarawa state, Gishirin-Hassan and Nwoyon in Ibi Local Government Area and Gwiwan-Kogi in Gassol Local Government Area in Taraba State, respectively.
Worried by the recurring cases of bloodletting, the lawmakers frowned at the slowness of government to bring an end to the recurring hazard of armed herdsmen/militia attacks on innocent citizens across the country, noting that the development is fast eroding citizens’ confidence in the capacity of government to protect them as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Taraba lawmakers who gave the charge at a press briefing held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, raised alarm over the threat of further attacks issued against Wukari/Ibi Local Government Areas by a group of Fulani herdsmen.
Dajuma Shiddi, who spoke on behalf of the Taraba lawmakers, solicited for urgent intervention of President Buhari and the military before the gunmen unleash attacks on innocent Nigerians, especially women and children.
They also urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the investigation into the helicopter loaded with ammunition which allegedly landed within the troubled area.
According to them, no fewer than 20 people have so far been killed by the suspected armed herdsmen/militia in Matar-Fada, Jibu road and Kaameh, as well as Ibua in Ibi local government area; Tse-Ikyande and Jandekyula in Wukari Local Government Area in recent times.
“Mr President will recall that these areas only recently experienced attacks by unknown gunmen which caused needless deaths and extensive damage to the socio-economic lives of the residents,” Shiddi lamented.
Expressing grave concern over the fate of thousands of Taraba residents exposed unabated cases of militia attacks, the lawmakers frowned at the failure of relevant security agencies to unearth and bring the perpetuators to book.
“This has created serious panic and unrest in the minds of our law abiding people and is fast eroding their confidence in the capacity of government to ensure their safety and protection from evil attacks of these suspects.
“It is in view of the foregoing that we hereby call on Mr. President, the government and the security agencies to urgently move to prevent the imminent attacks on these communities. This is of utmost necessity in order to forestall needless bloodshed and destruction of properties of our innocent people.
“Furthermore, we wish to call on our neighboring communities which we gather are harboring this bloodthirsty militia to expose and hand them over to the security agencies for prosecution. Specifically, Mr. President may wish to know that these attackers are camped in Awe, Tunga, Wuse in Nasarawa state, Gishirin-Hassan and Nwoyon in Ibi Local Government Area and Gwiwan-Kogi in Gassol Local Government Area in Taraba State from where they would come to attack our communities.
“As we speak, one of the settlements by our fishermen in Ibi Local Government Area named Goshin-Bauna was attacked and burnt down by the same herdsmen. It is our earnest prayer that the government will hear our cry and anguish and quickly do the needful before it is too late,” Shiddi urged.
