Taraba state governor, Agbu Kefas, has condemned the killing of 11 farmers by gunmen on Friday in Yangtu Development Area of the state.
In a statement, the governor said, the persistent attacks and killings in several parts of the state by bandits was worrisome and unacceptable.
The statement signed by Emmanuel Bello, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Digital Communication, said the state government was doing everything humanly possible to bring such carnage to an end.
While expressing his heartfelt condolences to the people of Yangtu, the governor called on security agents to redouble their efforts in ridding the troubled area of all forms of terror.
Bello said the governor has despatched the his deputy, Alhaji Bello Alkali, and heads of security agencies to Yangtu for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and seek lasting solutions.
The statement said Ogbu’s recent visits to all security heads at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja was primarily geared towards attracting the federal government’s support in the fight against banditry in the state.
The statement said to effectively combat the scourge, the newly elected Local Government Chairmen would be adequately empowered to safeguard lives and property in their domain while security agents would be provided with modern equipments and technologies to enhance security.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Command has disclosed the identities of the victims of the attack, which it said was carried out by suspected Fulanis.
A statement by Abdullahi Usman, spokesperson of the command listed the victims as: “Saleh Kyatiki ‘m’ 62yrs; Ephraim Atenji ‘m’ 45yrs; Mansseh Atenji 42yrs; Hassan Songure, 18yrs; Hope Hassan, 23yrs and Rimamsomtse Lamadi, 32yrs”. Others, according to statement, include, “Holiness Enoch, ‘m’ 30yrs; Rimamtsiki Enoch, 26yrs; Egwu Hassan, 22yrs and Rimamdeya Lamadi, 25yrs”.
The statement added that all the deceased were of the Kuteb ethnic extraction.
Usman said, the Police Commissioner, Joseph Eribo, has deployed a Special Task Force in collaboration with the military to the area.
