Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The persistent unrest in two local governments: Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Development Area of Taraba State, has been attributed to the ungoverned tribal space created by the vacuum of the Ukwe Takum stool for over Twelve years.
The President of Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria KYN, Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen, disclosed this in a press briefing in Jalingo.
“We express our dismay in the light of the recent horrific events happening in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as the Yangtu Special Development Area.
“The recent attacks have left scores of people brutally massacred and communities scattered, unleashing pure unadulterated evil on our people.
“There is no rationalizing it, no excusing it. Period! The brutality we saw would have cut deep anywhere in Nigeria, but it cuts deeper in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as the Yangtu Special Development Area, knowing that these activities have continued unabated for too long despite the heavy presence of security operatives in the area.
According to him, the unrest has opened doors for various criminal groups resulting to banditry, kidnappings, robberies, rapes and other atrocious acts in the area.
“It is no longer secret that some of our local Communities have been taken over by hired mercenaries who have continued to occupy our Homes, Churches and School buildings.
“The Taraba State Government, Police, DSS and all other Security operatives must reinforce and expedite actions towards reclaiming our land and restoring peace and order in that area.
“To the wicked, who desperately lie in wait for the destruction of our people, we want to assure you that God will never support evil, you need to shun all evil ways.
“I want to draw to public attention that the persistent unrest in the Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as Yangtu Special Development Area is as a result of the ungoverned tribal space created by the vaccum of the Ukwe Takum Stool for almost 30 years.
“Only recently, 24th day of November, 2023 over twelve (12) of our people were mercilessly massacred by hired assassins/bandits in different locations in Kuteb land, despite the heavy presence of security men all over Takum/Ussa Local Government Areas and Yangtu Special Development Area.
The KYN president disclose that it has been insinuated in some quarters that some powerful self- serving demi-gods are bent on punishing innocent people based on the grand design to rob them of their traditional Stool by installing a non-Kuteb person as the Ukwe Takum.
“This allegation is borne out on the unveiled plan to install a Chamba man as Ukwe Takum, come December, 2023.
“There is also clandestine plan to facilitate a fraudulent Bill to be passed into Law on the Ukwe Takum Stool against the existing Customs and Traditions of the Stool.
“Furthermore, we want to draw to public attention the fact that the same fraudulent and kangaroo method was used to formulate the 1975 Gazette that has resulted to the large scale conflicts in the area.
He implore Govenor Agbu kefas to study carefully the history of the Ukwe Takum Stool as contained in our earlier submission dated 10th August, 2023.
“Based on the foregoing, the Kuteb Nation wishes to state with loud voice that the Ukwe Takum Stool is the exclusive preserve of the Kuteb tribe, and it is the paramount throne in the area. It therefore cannot be rotated, shared by or relinquished to any person or tribe other than as prescribed by the Customs and Traditions of Kuteb.
‘This has been the”TRIPOD’ principle in the area, practiced in conformation to the Stools of Aku Uka, Wukari and Gara, Donga. Also, the Taraba State Government should prioritize appointing Ukwe Takum according to the Kuteb Native Law and Customs before upgrading any newly created Chiefdoms in that region.
He stated categorically that the Kuteb Nation do not have a negative impression of our amiable Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, reminiscently a true son of the Kwararafa Kingdom – he said.
“In fact, it is worthy to note his purposeful leadership style, policies and programmes geared towards developing the State, especially in the aspects of the inclusion of Local Government employees into the State Pension Scheme, payments of Pensioners, provislon of free education in the Primary and Secondary schools, subsidizing the cost of education in the Taraba State University, successful conduct of Local government elections among other things.
“However, we are sceptical if our people will benefit from these good policies, knowing that insecurity is a major threat to development.
“In as much as we are aware of the immense pressures faced by the Governor from all quarters especially the initially stated demi-gods to commandeer Our people, we urge His Excellency not to allow himself to be distracted, as this will amount to deviating from his Oath of 29th May, 2023 to be fair and just., We are convinced that he remains a custodian of peace and not conflicts in the State – he added.
It recall that Bandits on Friday evening attacked and killed Eleven people in Yangtu Development area and Ussa local government Communities of Taraba state.
Amb. Peter Shamwun, the Ussa local government council chairman who confirmed the attack on Saturday, also raised the alarm that the bandits have lay siege along Takum- Ussa road to kill more people.
According to the council chairman,
the bandits also attacked Kpambo Yashe community in Ussa local government and killed one person.
The chairman appealed to president Bola Tinubu and governor Agbu Kefas to urgently draft a team of joint tax force (JTF), comprising the military, police and the Vigilante to flush out the bandits in the area.
“Information available to me now is that, the bandits have lay siege along Takum-Ussa road and other areas around Yantu to kill more people. I do not know why the bandits have decided to concentrate in the area and have been operating freely without being antagonize by the security operatives. From where a man was killed yesterday evening in Ussa to the military barracks in Takum, is not up to a kilometre.
“The continue attack on the people has brought so much food insecurity. My people are been attacked anytime they go to farm. We are at the mercies of bandits, i want both the state and federal government to intensify efforts to flush out the bandits to allow my people farm.
“There has been issues of Fulani bandits in our area but I am suspecting that the ones operating currently in the area are those that have been chased by the military operatives in Zamfara and other states in Nigeria. The have moved to settle in some local government in Taraba if not antagonize”. The council chairman decried.
According to local sources, the bandits launched simultaneous attacks in Rubur Ribasi, Nyicwu and Ruwah Communities of Yangtu Special Development Area around 6:Pm on Friday, where they killed at least Nine persons.
Mr. Yakubu Tinya who narrowly escaped the attack told our correspondent that the attackers also killed one person at Tukwog Community, along Takum-Manya road.
“They came in numbers to separate Communities around 6:pm, and killed anyone on sight. Some people were attacked right on their farms, some on their way back while, some in their homes.
“They attacked me and my two brothers and killed one of us. Some of them are Fulanis but some do not look like Nigerians. They appeared to us at a very close range” Mr. Tinya narrated.
The Taraba state police command spokesperson SP Usman Abdullahi said the incident was still under investigation.
Our correspondent recall that the Kuteb people of Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Development area have been under bandits attacks for over a year now, leading to the death of Hundreds and displacement of thousands of people.