Taraba community decry arrest of traditional ruler by Army

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo.

The Mbayongu community of Kaamem, Manya area council of Takum LGA in Taraba state have decried the arrest of Zaki Terkura Kugba, the district head of Mbayongu by operatives of the Nigerian Army, led by Sgt Yohana Emmanuel of Ada Barrack in Takum.
Locals told Peoples Daily on phone that the military invaded the community on Saturday morning and started beating every one on sight.
A youth leader, Mr. James Tyona told our correspondent that the Army invaded the community as at the time the district head was attending a meeting with community leaders in a nearby village before he was informed of the military presence in his community.
“They invaded our community on Saturday morning, beat and took away Zaki Terkura Kugba, the district head of Mbayongu community in the Manyia area council of Takum, with his face tired, took away his motorcycle and Tricycle. The Army were beating every one on sight before the traditional ruler was informed of their actions in his community, where he was attending meeting with community leaders.
“On sighting the traditional ruler, the soldiers started beating him before the team leader, Sgt Yohana Emmanuel intervened. According to the soldiers, they received intelligence that a terrorist know as (JC), was in the community on a tax mission.
“It’s unfortunate that the military broke into people’s houses including that of the traditional ruler but did not see the said criminal neither, anything incriminating in the community. They also went away with people’s cash.
“Zaki Kugba has nothing in connection with either the said terrorist or any criminal. He is a leader who has on many occasions, use his personal resources to support security operations to ensure a crime free society in the area.”