Fear in Taraba over spate of kidnapping in Jalingo
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The residents of Jalingo the Taraba State capital, have been subjected to serious fear following the spate of kidnapping in the Mayo-Dassa area of the town, where hardly a day pass without a report of kidnapping.
Our correspondent reports that, 14 people have been kidnapped just within the last eight days around, Mayo-Dassa Primary school, Gulum and air street, both within the Mayo-Dassa area of Jalingo.
Kidnapped victims are mostly businessmen and successful farmers, but most prominent among them is a major distributor of an international brewery in the state.
A house owner Mr Akuwe Habu, said two of his tenants who are businessmen have relocated to other areas where they believe is safer within the town after renewing their rent few months ago.
“Two of my tenants who renew their rent not up to four months, have packed to another area within Jalingo following the waves of kidnapping here in Mayo-Dassa.
“Just within the last eight days, 14 people have been kidnapped and no contact has been established with their families for ransume negotiation. Those kidnapped so far are businessmen and successful farmers.
“As soon as is 7pm, the Mayo-Dassa Primary school, air street, and Gulum areas become a (No Go ), areas and the situation has created a lot of fear even in those leaving around the market side.
“90 per cent of well to do individuals are no longer sleeping in their houses. They only come around when is in a day hours and disappeared as soon as is 5pm in fear of been kidnapped,” he said.
A businessman who identified himself as Chris, expressed that, he has moved his wife and three kids to Yola, Adamawa State where his elder sister and husband are, and has been staying with his secondary school mate whom he attended same school with in Jos, Plateau State.
“I have moved my wife and three kids to Yola in Adamawa state where they are now with my elder sister and her husband. For me, I am now staying with one of my secondary school mate whom we schooled in Jos plateau state.
“The situation in Mayo-Dassa is scaring and one has to stay clear from the area. Anyone who is believe can have up to two million in his bank account, the person automatically is a target,” he feared.
Within the last five weeks, residents of ATC, Nunkai, Roadblock, New Era and Mayo-Dassa both in Jalingo have been complaining of mass movements of young people between the ages of 25-30 years, mostly in group around 7pm, heading to strange directions.
However, DSP Usman Abdulahi, the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer did not respond to calls put to his mobile phone to get the command’s efforts towards eradicating the situation in the area and Jalingo the state capital as a whole.
God have mercy