Meanwhile, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State, yesterday, cried out against what he called continued military collusion with militias to kill innocent persons in various parts of the state.
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| Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State |
The governor spoke when he received the Special Military Panel set up by the Chief of Army Staff to probe the alleged connivance of the military with herdsmen to kill farmers in the state, led by its President, Major General James Nimyel, retd.
The chairman and members of the panel were on a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House Jalingo at the commencement of their job.
The governor said it was at the height of the wanton killings that the former Defence Minister spoke against the military, saying that the people of the state were solidly behind Danjuma on the statement he made.
According to him, Danjuma spoke the minds of most citizens of the state and Nigeria, describing him as being bold, courageous and that his statement came to all of them as a surprise.
He said considering the reputation of Danjuma, both locally and internationally, his views should not only be respected but should also be commended.
The governor cited the recent development in Takum, where military personnel deployed to the area went into houses and dispossessed them of the their cutlasses, kitchen knives and even took away monies in some houses, while the holders of Ak47 were left to continue with the killings.
He said the killings which had become a daily affair pose a huge challenge to our unity as a country and do not support our desire to remain as one country, especially now that Nigeria is battling to remain united as one country.
Governor Ishaku maintained that nobody in this country would want the repeat of the civil war in this country considering the trauma and hardship that the people experienced within the period the war lasted. ‘Nobody in his right senses would ask for a repeat of those tragic days in our history.’
Governor Ishaku lamented that what he has seen since he became the Governor of the state for about three years is humiliating and disturbing, stating that the killing in the state has been a daily affair, resulting in whole family members being wiped out in some cases.
Ishaku said: “I didn’t sleep yesterday. At 1 o’clock this morning, I was woken up and told that herdsmen militia had attacked again in Tsondi. They fought a fierce battle against the military, but fortunately the Military in Takum came early enough but not less than 14 people were killed.
“The same thing happened again this morning at 3am, the Military in Takum went around beating up youths arresting them from their houses, charging them with some allegations and packed them to the barrack. The citizens are not protected, the citizens are scared to death, the citizens are afraid and yet they are being terrorized.
‘We already have Boko Haram that has not been completely defeated. The herdsmen killing has joined. Who says there could not be a third one?
“As Governor, I was sworn in to protect the lives of my people. I have sworn that what is right should be done, therefore, I will not fear, I will not relent to tell the truth as raw as it may be.”
Governor Ishaku expressed support for the idea of state police to enable state governors deal will urgent security challenges.
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