From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
A group, Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), on Friday lamented what they described as federal government negligence over the alleged incessant killings in Takum, Ussa and Yantu special development areas of Taraba state.
In particular, the Association lamented that the Kuteb ethnic of Taraba have suffered persistent attacks and killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen since 2021 without the federal government’s presence or intervention.
Making this position known in a press release from the association’s public relations officer (PRO),Mr. Ure Caleb, they called on President Bola Tinubu to take prompt and decisive military intervention as demonstrated in Mangu area of Plateau State, to totally dislodge bandits from the deserted villages in the area, and resettle the people back to their ancestral villages.
The group also kicked at the government report that the insecurity situation in the area was a farmers/herder’s crisis, noting that the killings was a well calculated act targeted at the Kuteb ethnic of the state.
The statement read in part:”We are saddened that the federal government has neglected the persistent and continued killings in Takum, Ussa and Yantu Special development area of Taraba state. Since 2021 when the ugly trend started, the federal government has refused to intervene in the situation that has claimed over 3000 lives of the innocent Kutebs with over 1000 houses destroyed.
“We wish to appeal to president Bola Tinubu to make a decisive military action as demonstrated in Mangu area of Plateau State, to totally disarm the bandits, dislodge them from the deserted villages in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Area and resettle the people back to their ancestral villages.
“We wish to also put to the notice of all Nigerians and the government that the killings in Takum, Ussa and Yantu Special development area of Taraba state is not farmers/herders crisis. It is a well calculated act, targeted at annihilating the Kuteb ethnic.
“It is sad to say that, with the submission of a comprehensive report to the Executive Governor of Taraba State Dr. Agbu Kefas by the Peace Committee, and the effort the governor is putting to end the insecurity in the area, the bandits seem to have added new tactics to the mode of their operation. They now go along with herds of cows in front. While they attack the communities, the cows destroy crops in the farms. They even resort to guerrilla war where they attack and kill farmers in their farms.
“We want to bring to the notice of the government at all levels and security agencies that there are hundreds of well-armed bandits surrounding Kuteb villages in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu special development area, killing on a daily basis.
“Just within the last five days, 13 innocent Kuteb farmers were attacked and killed by the bandits herdsmen, just as they occupied more of the land without any challenge from the security.
“We wish to state here in clear teams that, there is no peace in Takum, Ussa and Yantu Special development area of Taraba, particularly in the Kuteb speaking areas”.
