By Christiana Ekpa
The House of representatives on Wednesday asked the intelligence agencies and the operational security agencies to identify the routes and camps of the terrorists and their local collaborators to bring them to book.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance on the need to prevent terrorists overrunning Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State, sponsored by Hon. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, lawmaker representing
Takum/Donga/Ussa/Yangtu SDA Federal Constituency of Taraba state.
Debating the motion, the house notes that terrorists who murdered six soldiers of the 93BN of the Nigerian Army in Takum Local Government area of Taraba State have continued the unabated destruction of settlements in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The lawmakers further disclosed that between July 5th to 12th 2022, over 30 people have been killed; adding that since the avoidable killings and destruction began on April 17, 2022, the following settlements and villages have been attacked and are still vulnerable to further attacks;
TAKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA:
Basank, Muji 1, Muji 2, Fawen, Tati, Flashin, Rikwen Tumu, Rikwen cwun, Tswen 1, Tswen 2, Kando, Kasiten, Kpashi, Shimta, Kwaben, Mbiya, Kakum, Tukok, Gaba, Mbafobani among others
The house said that in the latest attacks, the terrorists waylaid innocent and defenceless people and they freely moved from Takum to Ussa, shooting at motorists and pedestrians;
And noted that the killings and destruction, have become a reccurring decimal and in several of the communities attacked by the terrorist, crops in the field are destroyed; Houses including worship centres sometimes set ablaze.
He further informed that the terrorist invaded the area in large numbers simultaneously attacking several villages and settlements.
Cognizant of the fact that these terrorists have been flooding different parts of Nigeria insidiously setting up bases for further attacks on other unsuspecting communities.
The House is concerned that all these attacks have kept occurring without any strong, coordinated and consistent intervention from the security agencies – especially since the soldiers were killed by the bandits and the commanding officer of the 93BN abducted.
Further concerned that the appeals of the communities and several patriotic resolutions of the House for a stronger intervention by both the State and Federal government have gone largely unheeded; also that agricultural activities have virtually been disrupted in the area which produces a significant percentage of the foods needs of Nigeria.
The House also expressed worries that given the proximity of the area to the Ambazonia vs cameroun conflict the bandits will in no distance future internationalise the crisis as well as link easily and collaborate with Boko Haram cells across the Nigerian border.
Aware of the urgent need to deploy more security agents to the local governments to dislodge the terrorists and bring normalcy to the area as the citizens are becoming despondent and losing confidence in the government.
The House in a unanimous voice vote resolved to urge the Military to deploy more troops to the area to dislodge the terrorists and restore normalcy; the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other spirited organizations to intervene in providing relief materials to the more than 20,000 persons who are now refuge in their communities.
