Remove Taraba commissioner of police, Tivs urge IGP

The community of Tiv people of Taraba extraction have called on the Inspector General of police, IGP, Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar to relieve the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Karifite Adeyemi, of her job on grounds of alleged incompetence.

Decrying the security situation in the central and southern part of the state , the group in a statement over the weekend signed by its Secretary General Mr Williams Ayooso observed that the police commissioner has failed to save people of the state from the activities of marauders who have embarked on wanton destruction of lives and property.

“We have lost faith in the police commissioner for publicly declaring that she cannot guarantee the security of citizens on a mere threat by a militia group. She has compromised her position, politicised the office of Commissioner of Police and has no business in the service of the Nigerian Police Force,” the group said.

The group said its position was based on a statement credited to the commissioner of police who told internally displaced Tiv victims in Bali local government of Taraba State that unless the Benue state government allowed Fulani herdsmen to graze in Benue, the Tiv people of Taraba will not have peace.

“We the Tiv of Taraba have no control over what goes on in Benue. We owe no allegiance whatsoever to the Government and People of Benue State. We are from Taraba and must be accepted and treated as citizens of Taraba”, the statement argued.

The statement also expressed disappointment with the position of the Acting Governor of Taraba who set up a committee made up of Tiv indigenes of Taraba to liaise with the people and government of Benue state to ensure the return of Fulani’s to graze in Benue. It said the action of the governor was a political conspiracy and a ‘booby trap’ to deny the Tiv people of citizenship of the state.

 The group therefore called on the Taraba State House of Assembly as the representatives of the people to direct the Ag Governor to provide genuine and effective protection for the habitats of the disturbed areas of southern and central Taraba and as a matter of exigency send relief materials to the hapless victims of these attacks.

“We appeal to our Honourable Members in the National Assembly to prevail on the leadership of the Assembly to investigate the wanton killings of the Tiv people and other tribes in the Central and Southern Senatorial districts of the state with a view to bringing to book the conspirators. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan, to direct the deployment of more security personnel to stem the continuous killing and destruction of lives and properties in Taraba state.

“We call on all well spirited Tarabans and Nigerians to send relief assistance to the displaced women and children languishing in the Bali Camps. We appreciate the efforts of the security operatives who are putting their lives on the line for the safety of our people. We also appreciate the support of Taraba State’s larger community especially those ethnic groups that are providing shield and are assisting in various ways to stop this genocide mission against our people”, the statement added.