– Taraba residents alleged that military men are aiding killer herdsmen in the state
– The residents also accused soldiers on Ayem A’Kpatuma (Cat Race) of harrasing people – The army has however denied the allegations by the residents Some residents of Taraba state on Monday, March 27, alleged that operatives of Ayem A’Kpatuma (Cat Race) military operation in the state are harassing people and aiding killer herdsmen in attacking harmless residents. Vanguard reports that the chairman of Takum Local Council of Taraba state, Shiban Tikari, said General Danjuma’s call has vindicated the people of Takum. Tikari said: “Before the operation, there were cases of kidnapping and armed robbery by people using police and army uniforms. So, even when the army operation started people mistook them for kidnappers and it caused a lot of anxiety and apprehension.
“I have reports that soldiers have been breaking into people’s houses at night, harassing and demanding for people, but it was in front of the army barracks that a member of the state House of Assembly, Hossa Ibi was kidnapped and killed.” Another resident, Rimamsikwe Karma, Chairman of Ussa Local Council, said the operation was causing more harm than good to the people of the area.
“The herdsmen that followed the Army to our council are not friendly with our people, they are strange faces to us and they are killing people,” he said. However, the military has dismissed the allegations by the residents as false. The army inisted that it was carrying out its constitutional role diligently in the state.
The Commanding Officer, 93 Army Battalion Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, but dismissed the allegations as false.
Adi was attacked by suspected herdsmen who were said to be uncomfortable with the recent implementation of the open grazing law, while Tikari was attacked by armed bandits.
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