The continued influx of suspected Bandits and foreign Fulanis into Taraba State is becoming a matter of serious concern to government and people of Taraba State in the wake of the prevalent cases of wide spread killings and kidnappings in some parts of the state.
They are also worried over what they described as deliberate attempts to establish Boko Haram/ ISWAP Camps in the state to threaten the foundations of unity and the peaceful coexistence of the State.
The Scope investigations revealed that the recent action of the Federal Government to designate Bandits as Terrorists and the recent clampdown on the Terrorists in Zamfara and Nasarawa States have forced them to look for safer locations in Taraba to perpetuate their terrorists activities, a development that precipitated the recent warning by the Governor of the state, Architect Darius Ishaku to deal with any community leader that provides a settlement camp to “Migrants”
Further investigations revealed that these Bandits who disguised as migrants are seen moving in droves to Taraba and building up their presence in Gasol, Bali and Gashaka Local Governments of the state without hindrances, creating public suspicion and allegations of compromise and conspiracy among security operatives assigned to man the Gates or checkpoints within the confines of the state’s territory.
Some of these suspected Bandits and foreign Fulanis who are stopped at security check points for questioning claim to be either coming from Gombe or neighbouring States to settle down for farming this season.
This Reporter who joined a commercial bus in Numan to Jalingo found himself in the company of foreign Fulanis and their families who claimed they were coming from Gombe and heading to Mutum Biyu in Gasol local government. One of the young “Migrants” who appears to be a complete stranger sought to know from this Reporter if it were possible to get a vehicle to Mutum Biyu after arrival at the Jalingo Park at that time of the day.
Though the security forces manning the last security checkpoint before the Jalingo Gate asked all the occupants of the vehicle to come down for questioning that fateful evening, there was no convincing evidence of a sincere Identity verification of the passengers before releasing them to board their vehicle for their intended destination.
The fears and suspicion of the government and people of the state were further confirmed recently with the interception of twelve commercial Buses conveying suspected Bandits and foreign Fulanis believed to be from Niger Republic by uncompromising Wukari Youths who handed them over to the Authorities.
The Youths were reported to have been provoked to intercept and deliver the foreign Fulanis into the hands of the local authorities for necessary action due to what they described as lack of confidence in the security operatives manning the security checkpoints. They were said to have wondered why such cream of suspected Bandits could have escaped the watchful eyes of the security forces stationed at various security checkpoints on the high ways.
Dependable sources told our correspondent that the suspected Bandits during interrogation said they were in the state for “Chi Rani”, a Hausa term used for seasonal migration to engage in farming activities in other states by persons perceived to be non indigenes.
Our Correspondent further gathered that some community leaders collect between One and two million Naira gratification from these Bandits who disguised as Herdsmen or seasonal farmers to provide them space for habitation.
In an interview with Journalists recently, the Chairman of Gassol Local Government, Hon Musa Abdullahi alleged that his office is fully aware of the involvement of some traditional and community leaders who collect huge sums of money from the disguised Bandits to provide settlement locations.
He warned that his Council is widening investigations to pick on culprits among community leaders who collect gratification to settle Bandits within their domains at the expense of the corporate existence of the state.
Not long ago, the local vigilantes in the state were reported to have recorded heavy casualties during a fierce confrontation with the Bandits in some parts of the state.
Sources close to Government House, Jalingo told our correspondent that the government is not treating the interception of the suspected Bandits with kid gloves, emphasizing that any traditional ruler found to be associated with the influx of Bandits in the state will be sacked and treated like a criminal.
When the police public Relations Officer, Taraba State Command, DSP Usman Abdullahi was approached for comment, he told our correspondent that he was not aware of the interception of suspected Bandits by Wukari Youths.
“I am not aware. Such matter has not yet been reported to my office”, he remarked.
PIONEER NEWS 