Security
Jimkuta, Taraba Senator-Elect, Condemns Attack on constituents, Calls For Justice
Jimkuta, Taraba Senator-Elect, Condemns Attack on constituents, Calls For Justice
Nahum Sule, Jalingo
The Senator Elect for Taraba South Senatorial District, Sen. David Jimkuta has condemned in strong terms the recent attacks on Tsukundi, Kyhazo and pita villages in Wukari local government area by suspected Tiv Militia.
Jimkuta disclosed that the recent violent attacks by suspected Tiv militia in some surrounding villages in Wukari local which has claimed many lives and several others injured was unacceptable.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the heinous attack on members of our constituency at Tsokundi, Kyhazo, Pita and other villages in Wukari local government which, unfortunately, resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives.
“This criminal act is a direct assault on the peace and harmony that we have worked tirelessly to foster within our community
“I unequivocally condemn this senseless violence and stand in solidarity with the affected families.
“I call on the relevant authorities, particularly the law enforcement agencies, to swiftly and diligently investigate this appalling incident.
“It is of utmost importance that the perpetrators of this act of terror are apprehended and brought to justice”he said.
He explained that the stakeholders of the area cannot allow such acts of violence to go unpunished as it undermines the fabric of their society and threatens the security of our people.
Jimkuta urged the people of Taraba South in general and Wukari in particular, to remain calm and refrain from any acts that could lead to a breakdown of law and order and further disrupt the peace they were striving to maintain.
“Let us unite as one community and work with entrenched security systems to address this grave injustice” he added.
The Senator similarly urged families who lost loved ones in the unfortunate incident and those who sustained injuries to accept his heartfelt commiserations.
“I share in your grief and pain, and I stand ready to offer any support and assistance that may be required during this difficult period.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we will do everything within our power to ensure that justice is served and that such a tragedy does not happen again.
“As your elected representative, I want to assure you that I remain fully committed to the safety and well-being of our constituency.
Dimkuta said stakeholders must nip this evil in the bud and create an environment where every citizen can live without fear or intimidation.
Meanwhile, he has called on the people of Taraba South to come together in unity and resilience and support one another and foster an atmosphere of peace, love, and understanding.
Reacting, the National Secretary, Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative Worldwide, Comrade David Nyiagee expressed disappointment with the Senator Elect, David Jimkuta for profiling theTiv people as responsible for the attack in Tsukundi and other villages in Wukari local government.
“Who knows if the Tsukundu incident is a mere propaganda by the Jukun in their usual way, to give the Tiv people a bad name in order to find favour and continue with their agenda of ethnic cleansing on the Tiv people of Taraba State?” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that at least five persons have been killed while several others have been injured following barricading of roads by unidentified armed men in the area last week.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.
The Kwara State Government has come under scrutiny for failing to act on a 2020 security report warning of the rise of a new terrorist group, dubbed the “Mahamuda Terrorists,” in Baruten Local Government Area (LGA), according to documents obtained by Elanza News.
The report, submitted to the governor and top officials, highlighted the potential for escalating insecurity if the situation was left unchecked, a prophecy that has now materialised into a full-blown terror operation.
The Baruten Patriotic Agenda (BPA), which authored the report, expressed dismay at the government’s inaction, describing the situation as “deeply disheartening.”
The BPA’s prescience in forecasting the grave consequences of neglect has only amplified the tragedy, with the region now grappling with a surge in armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, youth restiveness, and trans-border crimes.
Baruten LGA, located in Kwara North Senatorial District, is the largest local government by landmass in Kwara State, covering 9,749 km². Bordered by the Republic of Benin, Niger State, Kaiama LGA, and Oyo State, it is predominantly inhabited by the Batombu ethnic group and is an agrarian society heavily reliant on grain farming.
However, the rising tide of insecurity has stifled socio-economic progress and violated residents’ fundamental rights to safety.
The 2020 report proposed a comprehensive security framework to address the multifaceted challenges in Baruten, including farmers/herders clashes, communal disharmony, and drug abuse.
Among its recommendations were the establishment of a Peace and Security Committee by the Local Government Council, comprising traditional leaders and stakeholders, to strategise on conflict resolution.
It also urged the state government to expedite judicial processes on chieftaincy disputes to prevent further unrest and to deploy a delegation to pacify warring factions.
Drug abuse was identified as a potent social vice, with the Wadatta Mining site near Biogberu and several locations in Gwanara Township serving as epicentres for the sale of illicit substances like tramadol, marijuana, and “Skake-and-die.”
A recent tragedy in Dameru, Bwen/Kiyoru Ward, saw 26-year-old Abdulrazak slump and die after overdosing on marijuana and other drugs. The report named notorious dealers, including Idris Bagi Abdulrazak (aka Patrick) in Gwanara and Sabi Togo in Yakira, the latter suspected of orchestrating a N1 million theft.
The BPA further highlighted rising incidents of rape, with a recent case in Gwanara involving the daughter of a local vigilante, Ayinde, underscoring the growing threat to vulnerable groups.
To curb the menace, the report recommended that the state government direct local councils to form an anti-drugs task force and establish rehabilitation centres for repentant drug abusers.
Religious disharmony, though rare, was also flagged as a potential flashpoint, particularly due to the use of loudspeakers during worship, which has caused friction among residents near religious centres.
The BPA stressed that the proposed security framework, if implemented holistically, could significantly reduce crime in Baruten.
However, the state government’s failure to act on these recommendations has allowed criminality to fester, leaving residents on edge and the region’s socio-economic fabric in tatters.
Meanwhile ,efforts to reach the Kwara State Government for comments on the matter were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.