Taraba killings: Lawmaker urges border communities to enhance vigilance

The lawmaker representing Takum/Ussa/Donga Federal Constituency, Mark Bako Useni, has called on communities along the Taraba and Benue State borders to enhance local intelligence and vigilance to support security agencies in protecting the areas.

He made this statement on Tuesday while reacting to the recent gruesome killing of six passengers in Takum Local Government Council of Taraba State by suspected gunmen.

The killings were noted to have occurred barely a month after the brutal murder of the traditional ruler of Chachanji in Takum Council, along with his son, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Describing the killings as barbaric, the lawmaker emphasized that this unfortunate incident follows the murder of the Chief of Chanchanji and his son on the same road just a few weeks earlier.

“These criminal elements have also developed a cruel strategy of following local farmers to their farms to kidnap them for ransom, a situation that will exacerbate the hunger experienced in the region,” he stated.

While appreciating the state’s governor for his usual prompt action on security concerns, he suggested a strong synergy between the Taraba and Benue state governments to tackle this persistent problem.

“I call on communities along the Taraba/Benue border on both sides to enhance local intelligence and vigilance to facilitate the work of security agencies in protecting the areas.”

While, urging the affected communities to remain calm and allow security agencies to address the situation, he reiterated his commitment to reach out to his colleagues in the two federal constituencies on the Benue side to offer support to the governors in securing the lives and property of the people.

Taraba killings: Lawmaker urges border communities to enhance vigilance