From Faruk Bamalli, Jalingo
The Fulbe Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO) Taraba State Chapter has petitioned the Taraba State Commissioner of Police over incessant attacks and killings of people in the Karim Lamido local government area of the state.
Hajiya Aishatu Ardo, the state chairperson of the organisation, disclosed this at a press conference in Jalingo on Thursday and said that the petition had become necessary due to a lack of proactive measures by security agencies to prevent the attacks by prosecuting previous culprits.
Ardo also called on the peaceloving governor of the state, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to act fast to avert a total breakdown of law and order, as similar cases in other places have led to total insecurity, just as what is currently being witnessed in the North West region of the country.
She further called on the governor to urge the security agencies in the state to ensure the recovery of hundreds of cows and thousands of goats and sheep that were carted away by the Gomu militias.
Ardo stated that the FUDECO has written to all the security agencies in the state, alerting them of the deteriorating security situation in the area and regrets that no arrest has been made or anyone punished to serve as a deterrent to others and forestall the attacks.
She also recalled that similar incidents happened in the same local government since 2009 to date among the tribes of Bandawa, Munga-Doso, Fulani, and Gomu, resulting in the deaths of several persons following disputes over land and livestock.
The chairperson observed that lack of punishment and severe sanctions against offenders have made such crimes to be repeated over time.
In the recent violence between the Gomu and the Fulani communities, during which five people, including a District head, lost their lives and several other herders are still missing, she said 107 cattle were also allegedly mutilated to death while hundreds others were carted away by suspected Gomu militia.
She further urged the state government to set up a special committee to investigate the crisis and ensure lasting solutions are put in place, adding that those found culpable should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
Findings by our correspondent indicate that the recent violence was a result of the blockage of a cattle route, igniting the crisis between the Gomu and the Fulani pastoralists.
The petition reads in part that “we write to bring to your knowledge the killing of some pastoralists by the Gomu militia group in Karim LGA of Taraba state.
“To put the record straight, the militia group launched an attack on Tuesday, the 15th of September, 2024, where four innocent pastoralists have been confirmed dead, 30 others are missing, 107 cows killed, and about 700 others are missing, with a large unconfirmed number of sheep and goats.
“There have been reports of victims buried in shallow graves in different locations in the area by the militia group in order to shield their heinous crime against humanity.
“We therefore wish to draw the attention of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to conduct an investigation into the killings that have been going on for about two days with the view to bringing the crisis to an end and equally fish out the perpetrators in order to make them face the full wrath of the law. the petition said.
