Dare devil bandits on Monday invaded Lissam, headquaters of Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba state, killing at least nine people.
A resident who disclosed this in a telephone chat, said the bandits who were in larged numbers attacked the town at about 9am in a commando style.
He said the situation was helpless as there was no security deployment to the area despite the increasing security challenges.
He said, “Today bandits invaded Lissam and nine people were killed including the village head of Kutufa, not far from the town.
“We are living in fear, people who had earlier fled their villages to Lissam thinking it is a safe haven, are relocating to other places.
“The bandits came in broad daylight – around 8am to 9am. They were in large numbers – about 200 of them and they operated unchallenged and fled to the bushes.
“People were running helter-skelter for their dear lives. It is a terrifying situation. Many people are fleeing the town.
“Some fled to Jalingo the state capital, some to Wukari. Those of us that have no where to go are stranded, helpless and are at the mercy of God.
“As I speak with you, I am trying to see how I can raise money and relocate my family from here because nobody feels safe.
“The security personnel are no where to here. After the bandits had fled, a few soldiers came around.
“People are so restless and they are just going up and down even as it is raining here”.
Last week,20 people were killed when bandits attacked communities in Yangtu Development area and Ussa LGA.
Several communities were sacked while many of the villagers fled to Lissam town, where the latest attack took place.
The North-East Governors Forum, at their meeting last week in Gombe, raised the alarm over the influx of bandits fleeing the North-West to their region and causing havoc.
The governors, in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, called on the federal government to deploy more security personnel to the zone.
