Taraba violence: Declare state of emergency in Taraba now, group tells Buhari

Admin l Thursday, March 14, 2019

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Taraba Progressive Movement has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Taraba State, saying that the security situation in the sate has worsened. The group in a press release on Wednesday said the 24 hours curfew declared by the state government have not stopped the killings of innocent people and destruction of properties by political thugs.

The statement signed by its Coordinators, Muhammad Umar and Godiya Kona, noted more than a hundred people has been killed in the state since PDP was declared winner of the governorship election.‎

“So far, more than a hundred lives have been lost, properties worth millions are being destroyed in areas believed to be APC stronghold in the state.
The security situation in Taraba State is snow balling into a pure religious crisis and the officials of the state government are culpable. Since Tuesday that INEC announced the PDP as winner of the governorship election, PDP thugs have continued to unleash terror in the state in the name of celebrating their victory.

“These thugs mostly imported from Benue State and Takum Local Government by the PDP are working on direct instruction of some PDP chieftains to specifically attack APC supporters in their homes. These  thugs with state government protection moves freely during  curfew time to set ablaze houses in ‎Unguwan Water Board, Unguwan Primary Board, Unguwan NTA, Unguwan Saminaka, Unguwan kasa, Rubi Bypass Jeka dafari, Unguwan Rubi Junction Jalo all in Jalingo, the state capital.

“In Iware, Tau all under  Ardo Kola Local Government, people are being killed and properties are been burnt by PDP thugs. Also in Mutumbiyu and Tella area of Gassol Local Government, PDP leaders are identifing APC members for targeted attacks,” the statement stated. The group said ‎it was more worrisome that “the waves of violence is only in Muslims dominated areas and APC strongholds”.

“The four Local Governments declared to be won by APC in the Saturday election are the main targets of this crisis. It’s time for the Federal Government to fully take over the security situation in Taraba State, the state government cannot stop the violence because it is politically orchestrated by the PDP in the state.

“President Buhari should as a matter of urgency take charge of Taraba Security,  deploy more security agents  to the state because Governor Ishaku has failed to protect lives of Tarabans,” the group said‎.