By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Taraba State Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Habu James Phillip, has described the Monday attack on travellers along Wukari-Tsokundu road by acclaimed Tiv militia as highly condemnable and reprehensible.
Habu, who is the political leader of the Tiv in Taraba state stated that those behind the attack are criminals and agents of destabilization who do not have the interest of the area at heart.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that three people, including a woman were killed in the attack that occurred at about 5.00pm while two others sustained serious injuries and are presently receiving treatment at the Federal University of Wukari Teaching Hospital, Wukari.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner who expressed bitterness over the dastardly act, urged all the Tiv leaders in the area to fish out those behind the killings and hand them over to security agencies for prosecution.
He noted that the state governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, was doing everything humanly possibly to unite all the tribes in the state, in his determination to bring peace and development to the state saying, all hands must be on deck to ensure the governor realize his objective.
The commissioner, however expressed disappointment over the failure of the President General of Tiv Cultural and social Association in the state, Chief James Baka to condemn the killings and therefore call on him to resign his position.
According to Habu, “It is very disappointing that the President General of Tiv Cultural and social Association Taraba state, James Baka, has remained silent over this highly condemnable incident and I demand that he should resign his position.”
“When some Tiv travellers were attacked and killed by Ichen militia last month, Governor Kefas was the first to condemn the killings and called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. That is how a leader should act,” he added.
The commissioner, however, appealed to all the conflicting tribes in the state to embrace peace and learn to live harmony, considering the efforts being made by the governor to unite the state through inclusiveness and even distribution of projects and appointments.
