Taraba, Benue killings: Call your Youths to order – monarch advises both govts
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO.
Owing to the high rate of attacks and killings being perpetrated daily on the border communities of Taraba and Benue states, the 1st Class Chief of Takum in Takum local government area of Taraba State, Barr. Sopiya Ahmadu Gboshi III has advised the Governments of both states to call their youths to order.
Barr Sopia Ahmadu Gboshi III, First Class Chief of Takum
The Traditional Ruler’s advice was as a result of the six persons brutally killed by unknown gunmen early Monday morning along Wukari – Takum road of Taraba State in addition to a business man and a farmer who were also killed along Takum – Jalingo road within a space of four days.
The Monarch who spoke through a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Jalingo by the Acting Secretary of Takum Traditional Council, Danlami Garbuwa also recalled the gruesome killing of the 3rd Class Chief of Chanchanji and his son on the same road.
Barr Sopia Ahmadu expressed worry that the bandits perpetrated their heinous crimes in the two neighbouring local government areas of Katsina Ala in Benue State and Takum in Taraba State.
“His Majesty however, noted with pains that these criminal activities are mostly perpetrated within and by criminal elements from neighbouring local government areas especially, Katsina Ala of Benue State”,
“His Majesty therefore, called on governments and the good people of these LGAs to call their youths to order and give peace and development a chance”, the statement stated.
While calling on the security agencies and governments of the two states to step up security measures against incessant killings taking place in the above stated border communities, the Paramount Ruler also pledged the support of his Chiefdom to bring to an end such a menace.
Condemning what he described as the dastardly act, the monarch charged the people living in those border communities to be calm, avoid any form of reprisal attacks, emphasizing that they report any person or group whose identities are not known to the nearest security agencies.
He also disclosed that the security agencies, the government and stakeholders were working hard to unravel the identities of the perpetrators of the killings with a bid to bringing them to book.
The Chief of Takum, who commended Governor Agbu Kefas for the result oriented security measures being implemented in the State, also enjoined the governor to scale up operations and deployments of security agencies saying, the attackers have become more daring to counter them and ensure that they are completely routed out.
