The Fulbe Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO) Taraba State Chapter, has petitioned the Taraba State Commissioner of Police over incessant attacks and killings in Karim Lamido communities and the seeming indifference of the security agencies.
Hajiya Aishatu Ardo (Sarauniya Pulaku), the state Chairperson of FUDECO who disclosed this at a press conference in Jalingo on Thursday said the petition had become necessary due to lack of proactive measures by security agencies to prevent the attacks by prosecuting previous culprits.
Ardo called on the peace loving Governor of the State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to act fast to avert a total breakdown of law and order as similar cases in other places have led to complete insecurity, as is currently being witnessed in the North West region of the country.
She further called on the Governor to urge the security agencies to ensure the recovery of the hundreds of cows and thousands of goats and sheep that were carted away by Gomu militias.
Ardo noted that the FUDECO has written to all the security agencies in the State, alerting them of the deteriorating security situation in the area and regretting that no arrest has been made or anyone punished to serve as a deterrent to others and forestall the attacks.
She recalled that similar incidents happened in the same local government since 2009 to date among the tribes of Bandawa, Munga-Doso, Fulani and Gomu resulting in the death of several persons following disputes over land and livestock.
Ardo observed that lack of punishment and severe sanctions against offenders have caused such crimes to be repeated over time.
In the recent violence between the Gomu and the Fulani communities, during which five people including a district head lost their lives and several other herders still missing, she said 107 cattle were also allegedly matchetted to death while hundreds of others were carted away by suspected Gomu militia men.
She further urged the State government to set up a special committee to investigate the crisis and ensure lasting solutions are put in place, adding that those found culpable should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
Findings by our correspondent indicate that the recent violence stemmed from an alleged blockage of a cattle route, igniting the crisis between the Gomu and the Fulani pastoralists.
“We write to bring to your knowledge the killing of some pastoralists by the Gomu militia group in Karim LGA of Taraba state,” the petition read, in part.
“To put the record straight, the militia group launched an attack on Tuesday, the 15th of September, 2024, during which four innocent pastoralists were confirmed dead, 30 others missing, 107 cows killed and about 700 others missing along with an unconfirmed number of sheep and goats.
“There have been reports of victims buried in shallow graves in different locations in the area by the militia group in order to shield their heinous crime against humanity.
“We Therefore, wish to draw the attention of the Nigerian Police and other sister security agencies to quickly launch an investigation into these killings which have been going on unabated for about two days with the view to bringing the crisis to an end and equally fish out the perpetrators in order to make them face the full wrath of the law and to restore law and order in the affected areas”.
Hajiyya Ardo
