Insecurity: Taraba residents raise suspicion against Army, as herdsmen kill, take over lands
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Residents of Wukari, Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba State on Monday, recalled the suspicion of Gen. T.Y Danjuma’s alleged military collusion with herdsmen to kill Nigerian in their communities.
The residents lamented that while the herdsmen have taken over land in mostly areas where Army have been stationed, the original owners of the land have being killed around the military points, anytime they try to return to their ancestral homes.
Our correspondent reports that Gen. T.Y Danjuma had in 2017 in Jalingo and 2023 in Wukari, both in Taraba State, alleged that the military was colluding with herdsmen to kill Nigerians, and asked Nigerians to rise and defend themselves before the herdsmen actualise their annihilatory agenda against other ethnics.
The residents while pointing out their suspicion against the Nigerian Army in their areas, alleged that over 10,000 people have been displaced by Fulani herdsmen since 2019, in the areas where one can described as permanent military points, while the original owners of the areas are being killed anytime they attempt to farm in the area without military intervention.
Mr Ande-teran Remanded Yusuf of Takum, Igbawase Gbajime of Wukari and Theophilus Rekwensi, both told our correspondent that Tor Musa, Tor Iorshagher, Ikyayoo, Zege-Ate and Ayu in Wukari Local Government while, Tati, kwari, Gangum, muji, Fawen and many others Communities in Takum and Ussa Local Government have been taken over by the fulanis.
“We are beginning to suspect that what Gen. T.Y Danjuma said in 2017 and 2023, that the military were colluding with Fulani herdsmen to kill Nigerians is true. There are clear indications that the Army are providing cover for Fulani to actualize their annihilatory agenda against other ethnics.
“Imagine, in all places where military are stationed, herdsmen have displaced our people and anytime, anyone attempt to farm there, the a news always break that the person has been killed. The fulanis have taken over our land, grazing freely without the military intervention.
“How can we now argue that the military are not with the fulanis? Where the military are stationed is in our ancestral homes but yet, they seat, watch the fulanis displace and kill our people in those areas and take over the land without the military intervention,” they suspected.
But when contacted, the Army spokesperson in Taraba, Lt. Oni, denied the allegation and said, the Army did not provide cover for the herdsmen to kill.
Oni noted that the Nigerian Army was not a tribal organisation but discipline, trained to protect the Nigeria territory and her citizens without sentiment.
He also promised to investigate the allegation raised by residents in the three LGAs and get back to the press.
