Taraba Community seeks security protection over violence, threats

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The residents of Piou Community in Bali local government area of Taraba has appealed to the state government to provide them with security protection against violence threats from the buyers whom their farmlands had been seized and sold to by the traditional leadership of Piou.

Mr Micheal Dadu, Leader of the Tiv community in Piou made the call while addressing newsmen in Jalingo on Saturday.

Dadu recalled that the Chairman of the Bali local government, Hon. Aboki Dauda earlier directed the traditional ruler of Zudai, Mallam Mijinyawa Mohammed to return the over 4, 000 hecters of farmlands he had seized from Tiv community back to their original owners.

He explained that after the resolution and directive by the council Boss that their farmlands be returned to them unconditionally, he said that they were now faced with serious threats to lives and violence in the area.

He also stated that some of the buyers who now occupied their farmlands carried arms of different kinds to the farms.

The leader added that the illegal occupants were building houses after they had demolished the original existing structures.

Dadu said that the situation which was worrisome has made them to put the Public on notice so that in an event anything happened to the members of the Tiv community in Piou, the Kindred Head should be held responsible.

“We are faced with violence threats and threats to our lives by those who have bought our farmlands.

“As I speak, they brandish all sort of weapons and they have being threatening all kinds of violence attacks against us.

“They have built and are building houses on our farmlands after destroying our houses, wells, graves and economic trees.

“We are calling on the state and local governments and security agencies to act fast so as to forestall peace within our community. To us, we are law abiding and believe in the abilities of both the state and the local governments that they can bring this situation under control.

“What we face day by day is similar to ‘Night fall in Soweto’ where the environment is full of fear and tribulations” he said.

People’sdaily recalled that the Bali local government council had ordered the traditional ruler of Zudai to return the farmlands he seized from Tiv community in the area within two weeks.