Taraba herdsmen attacks: Lawmaker seeks commission of inquiry | Tellwell Newspaper
From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The member representing Takum 1 Constituency in the Taraba State H
ouse of Assembly, Garba Ajiya, on Friday, called for the immediate constitution of a commission of inquiry into the recurring alleged herdsmen attacks on Kuteb communities in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Area of the state.
ouse of Assembly, Garba Ajiya, on Friday, called for the immediate constitution of a commission of inquiry into the recurring alleged herdsmen attacks on Kuteb communities in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Area of the state.Findings by Tellwell correspondent showed that over 60 residents of the area have so far been killed, 25 Communities sacked and over 120, 000 people displaced in the persistent attacks.
In a press conference in Jalingo, the lawmaker said the call became necessary following accusing fingers being pointed at some individuals for their roles in fueling the attacks.
Ajiya noted that from the information in the public domain regarding the crisis, some individuals have been fingered in the crisis.
“I want to call on the Taraba State Government to set up a commission of inquiry into this crisis to unravel some of the facts and issues surrounding the crisis which many are tagging as politically motivated,” he appealed.
“What started like a little misunderstanding between Fulani herdsmen and Kuteb farmers in January this year has now become a total invasion and occupation of no fewer than 25 communities in my constituency by armed Fulani bandits,” the legislator said, lamenting, “In the last two days, Kpashimbe, Sabon-Gida Kpashimbe, Manya and Flash communities came under attack leaving two people dead and several others injured.”
He said Tati, Gandum I and II, Muji 1 and II among several other communities along the Manya -Takum road have been deserted, while the Fulani herders now graze their cows freely on displaced people’s farms.
“Thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have forced the closure of Markam and Fadama Primary schools and are using the schools’ classes as shelter,” he lamented.
Ajiya however commended the Catholic church and other churches that have taken in some of the IDPs as well as the State government for sending relief materials to the displaced persons.
He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other local and international aid organizations to intervene in the humanitarian situation in the area before the situation gets out of hand.
