No fewer than nine villages in Dampar ward of Ibi Local Government Council of Taraba state, have presently been taking over by militias from the neighboring state of Plateau.
The militias whim our reporter gathered emerged from Tarock in Langtang South of Plateau state, have not only lay hold of the villages but have as well compelled the real owners of the villages to pay tributes to them.
Our reporter however noticed that those who are not willing to subject themselves to the ruler ship of the militias have relocated from the villages to nearby local government councils in the state.
The state governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, who appeared helpless at the situation, said relevant efforts to ignite the attention of the Plateau state government to the ugly development have been made by the Taraba state government .
Sad at the growing rate of insecurity, the governor while answering questions from journalists in Jalingo, the state capital claimed to be aware of the situation which he said has continue to frustrate his peace efforts.
The said nine villages that are presently under the control of the militias Tarock as noticed by our state correspondent are Kurumi, Mala, Angwan-Kulla Gidan-Yaniri, Gidan Kie, Dan-Wase, Baje-Biu, Kesu and Kogin-Wase.
Governor Ishaku who was visibly not comfortable with the sad situation said ” I am very much aware that the militias from Tarock in Plateau state have taken over some villages in Dampar Ward of Ibi Local Government Council of our state.”
Stressing that determination of the state government to roll out all its machineries so as to flush out the insurgents he said ” I have written the governor and he has agreed to look into it.”
Further admitting that the ills of the insurgents have continue to thwart his peace move in the state,the problem of the state according to him “come from River Benue” stressing that the perpetrators of these ills ” come from Tunga in Nassarawa state.”
Relevant measures to engaged governors from the states of Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa and Taraba, in dialogue, he said have been mapped out drumming that ” we need the four governors to come together.”
The governor who went ahead to emphasized that he is aware of the activities of the Tarock militias at the southern parts of the of the state, admits that ” bringing the four governors together is not easy.”
When reached for comments, the state police commissioner, Shaba Alkali, told our correspondent that ” we have advised the two Executive governors of both states to meet and resolve the issue.”
Wondering why should persons from another state would ha r the mind to come and take over someone else state, the ongoing problem as made known by him, has a political connotation hence the need for the governor’s of both Taraba and Plateau states to engage in round table dialogue.
Should both state governments and security operatives continue to treat the issue with kid glove, the tendency of the militias capturing more villages in the state, according to a security expert who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymous, is high.