Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Thursday called
for the deployment of special security forces in
the state to root out regrouping Boko Haram
insurgents and other terrorists in the state.
Ishaku made the call when the General Officer
Commanding (GOC) of 82 Army Division Enugu,
Major Gen. Adamu Abubakar, paid him a
courtesy visit in Jalingo.
The governor said that the terrorists, who were
chased away from the Sambisa forest in Borno
by the military were regrouping in the forests of
Suntai Daaji.
The Suntai Daaji forest, he said, cut across Bali
and Donga local government areas and the
Gashaka/Gumti national park.
“The massive influx of people into Taraba for
some time now has been the major cause of
insecurity.
“But when I was warning of the repercussions, I
was accused of been against visitors, but today
all of us are victims of their criminal activities.
“The terrorists are today committing all sorts of
criminal activities, including rape, kidnapping and
killings.
“People can’t travel freely on Bali-Suntai-Takum
road among several other routes any longer in
the state,”he said.
Ishaku also suggested ranching as the best and
easier way out of the bloody clashes between
farmers and grazers as well as cattle rustling.
“The population of Nigeria at independence and
now is not the same and we must think and look
inward to solve these problems associated with
open grazing,”he said.
Earlier, the GOC said he was in the state to
address the issue of farmers/herdsmen clashes
and the general security situation in the state.
Abubakar called for dialogue among parties and
active collaboration among the security agencies
to end the security challenges facing the state.
He called on the governor to grant amnesty to
criminals with timeline to mop up illegal arms in
the state.
While lauding the governor for the steps taken to
improve security in the state, the GOC also
suggested the setting up of a special security
committee to work at the grassroots with
traditional rulers.
He noted that any traditional ruler that
compromised security in his domain should be
removed as a way of strengthening the peace
bond.
He called on warring parties in the latest clashes
that affected Bali, Takum, Ussa and Kurmi, to
eschew violence and embrace peace.