Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
The Taraba State Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Habu James Phillip, has described last Monday’s attack on travellers on Wukari-Tsokundu road by acclaimed Tiv militia as highly condemnable and reprehensible.
Habu, who is the political leader of the Tiv in the state, stated that those behind the attack are criminals and agents of destabilization, who do not have the interest of the area at heart.
Three people, including a woman were killed in the attack that occurred at about 5 p.m., while two other persons sustained serious injuries and are presently receiving treatment at the Federal University of Wukari Teaching Hospital, Wukari.
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, is doing everything humanly possible 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 realises his objective.
Habu, however, expressed disappointment over the failure of the President-General of Tiv Cultural Association in the state, James Baka, to condemn the killings, and therefore call on him to resign his position.
According to him “It is very disappointing that the President-General 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, however, appealed to all the conflicting tribes in the state to embrace peace and learn to live harmoniously, particularly considering the efforts being made by the governor to unite the state through inclusiveness and even distribution of projects and appointments.
