Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
Following the fresh alarm raised by Governor Darius Ishaku of an impending attack on the state by Fulani herdsmen, security agencies have expressed their readiness to decisively deal with any person or group that engages in any act that could lead to breakdown of law and order.
Governor Ishaku had on Thursday while receiving the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus raised the alarm that there are plans by Fulani herdsmen to carry out attacks in the state within the next ten days.
This is the second time Ishaku is raising such alarm as he did same in December at the grand finale of Taraba Cultural Carnival; following which over seventy people were killed by herdsmen during an attack on some communities in Lau local government area of the state.
And less than nine hours after the governor raised the alarm, four persons were killed when Fulani herdsmen attacked Ngutswen, a Tiv community in Gassol local government area of the state.
Speaking in a telephone interview with THISDAY, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner, Mr. Dave Akinremi said the command has put necessary measures in place to forestall any planned attack on the state.
Particularly, Misal revealed that the command is currently gathering intelligence to ascertain where and when the attack is to take place, just as he stated that officers and men of the command have been placed on red alert in case of any eventuality.
“The Taraba state police command is putting everything in place to guarantee the security of lives and properties in the state particularly in respect to the alarm raised by the governor though the CP has responded to the issue earlier.
“What the command is doing presently is intelligence gathering to determine where and when the attack is to be carried out in the state. But the command has also put all the officers and men of the command on alertâ€.
Misal, who refused to disclose other measures being put in place by the command, however disclosed that there is no special deployment of officers from other states, saying the command has officers and men on ground to handle any situation.
Also speaking on Friday during a courtesy call on Ishaku, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Maj-Gen. Benjamin Ahanotu said the Army was fully prepared to ensure peace and security of lives and properties.
Ahanotu, who commended the governor for being proactive to security issues in the state, said he and his team were in the state to discuss security challenges befalling the state and to device workable means on how to put a stop it.
Promising to do everything necessary to see that Taraba is completely peaceful, the GOC thanked Governor Ishaku for his efforts in tackling security challenges just as he assured that his men will comb every nook and cranny and all enemy hide out in the state and flush them out.
Speaking on the security situation in the state, the President, Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Goodman Dan Dahida charged security agencies in the state to be up and doing in tackling the situation.
According to him “The alarm raised by the governor should not be handled with levity. The spate of attacks and attendant loss of lives are becoming too many and can no longer be condoned and security agencies must have to rise to the occasion.
“In December, the governor raised a similar alarm and few weeks after, there was a terrible attack in Lay where over sixty people were killed. So this current alarm must be taken very seriouslyâ€.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has asked the federal government to probe the killings in Taraba and other parts of the country.
Speaking when he led PDP National Working Committee members to condole Ishaku over the killing of Hosea Ibi, a member of the State House of Assembly, he asked the federal government to review the country’s security architecture to curb the senseless killings going on in the country.
Lamenting the spate of insecurity in the country in the last two years, the PDP Chairman urged the federal government to act fast and restore the peoples’ confidence in the security agencies to avoid people resorting to self help.
“The APC led federal government has failed completely on their promises. Nigerians cannot afford to continue like this and since they have failed even on the primary responsibility of providing security, Nigerians should vote them out in 2019.
“I call on the National Assembly to investigate the report of the delivery of arms to Taraba by a helicopter, which usually drop arms in the state in the night and ascertain those behind the illegal arms delivery,” he added.
