September 21, (THEWILL) – The youths of Taraba state, under the auspices of the Southern Taraba Youth Coalition for Peace (STYCOP), have called on the state and Federal Governments, to as a matter of urgency, intervene in the insecurity situation in the southern zone of the state where the death tolls have continued to rise.
The group made the call during a world press conference held in Abuja, where they voiced their disapproval of the unfortunate mayhem that has continued to thrive in their zone.
They pointed out that Wukari, Donga, Takum and Lissam towns of the zone, are now IDP camps as a result of the ongoing insecurity and banditry that had sent residents of such areas out of their homes, farmlands and comfort zones.
The Project Director, Southern Taraba Youths Coalition for Peace (STYCOP), Hajara Love John, who spoke on behalf of the group said several communities in the zone are currently under siege, especially in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Areas, no thanks to the insecurity of the areas.
Hajara explained that the sorry situation had placed the zone in dire need of relief items, drugs, and shelter for the Internally displaced persons as men, women and children are languishing in hunger and prone to harsh environmental conditions.
“Our people are suffering silently with no help from anywhere. Every day, children die from hunger, diseases and harsh environmental conditions, as helpless mothers watch in tears. Indeed, the situation is pathetic”, she stated.
She further revealed that the Southern Taraba communities are highly vulnerable to attacks by the bandits, who have now taken over the deserted communities, leaving the people in distress, panic and the fear that there may not be elections in the zone come 2023.
The project director stressed that the two candidates of the major political parties PDP and APC in the state, are both from Southern Taraba and if by any chance, elections are not held, it will not be good for the zone in particular and the entire state in general.
“This fear is backed by the reality that with the spate of ongoing nonstop attacks, the local government headquarters in Southern Taraba are under threat. Should bandits finally attack our local government headquarters like Wukari, Takum, Donga, Ibi and Lissam, few days before the general elections, as they have been threatening, we doubt the possibility of elections in the 5 local government areas in Southern Taraba and Yangtu Special Development Area.
“Today It is no longer news that due to Jukun–Tiv crisis, 70% of Jukun and Tiv villages in Wukari and Donga Local Government Areas have been destroyed and deserted. Currently, there is an ongoing ethnic cleansing of Kuteb people in villages in Takum LGA, Ussa LGA and Yangtu Special Development Area by gun-wielding bandits.
“Our people are facing daily attacks from the bandits who use sophisticated weapons to maim, kill and displace thousands. These bandits are responsible for the death of the former Commanding Officer of 93 Battalion Army Barracks, Takum and six of his soldiers in May 2022. Since then, the attacks have heightened in frequency and sophistication, leaving over 40 kuteb villages destroyed. Just yesterday, scores were killed in five (5) villages bordering Lissam, the headquarter of Ussa Local Government Area”, she explained.
Hajara further stated that (STYCOP) was particularly devastated over the sad development because, despite the magnitude of destruction and displacement of people in the Southern Taraba, there was no special security operation by the government to provide protection for their people.
The group also asked the Federal Government, to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency in the zone, as it is the best option in these turbulent times considering that Southern Taraba has the largest electoral bloc in the state.
They advised that the state government should, including politicians, community and traditional leaders on the need for sustainable Intercultural dialogue in the zone
The group called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nongovernmental, Humanitarian organisations to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the zone, especially Takum, Ussa and Yangtu, as the people, according to them, are really at the crossroads.
While advising the state government to partner with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) to train and sensitise the people of the area, they also called on INEC and the law enforcement agencies to closely monitor the campaigns in the zone to prevent hate speech and foul language that may fuel the tension in the communities.
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