List Names Of Victims Kidnapped By The Gang


BY JOHN MKOM, Jalingo 


 


Controversy has continued to trail the killing of 12 people in Zudai village, near Dogon-Ruwa community in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State last Sunday as residents in Bali and Gassol Local Government area are insisting that  those killed  were bandits terrorizing the area.


The residents further stated that the local vigilantes in the area should be commended for bravery in ending the terror reign within the area. 


The Caretaker Chairman of Bali Local Government, Micah Dakka who spoke to LEADERSHIP also confirmed that vigilante group members operating in the area killed 12 bandits disputing the insinuations that apart from bandits, other people were also killed by the vigilante.


 

Dakka while briefing journalists in an interview said the vigilante members trailed the bandits from the neighbouring Gassol Local Government Area and overpowered them around Dogoruwa village of Bali Local Government, killing 12 of them while others fled.


 Mallam Hansi from Jatau, Evang. Jocob Ali from Bodel of Bali L.G and Wakili Sani Anema from Anema of Gassol Local Government told our reporter that the operation leading to the killing of the 12 alleged bandits  was a coordinated effort to free the communities from the grip of bandits terrorizing the area.


 They all confirmed that some kidnapped victims were also rescued at the scene during the battle between the Vigilante and the bandits while they urge the security agencies to capitalize on the efforts of the vigilante to over ride banditry within the area.


 “Those killed were bandits terrorizing our Communities and the local Vigilantes Group chased them away from their camp in Kwangiri, they relocated to another hidden area near Pankri in Bali.”


 "The gang is responsible for the kidnapping of Amos Yonana (Hore) in Bodel on 13 August 2022; Alh Dauda Bappa Isa   in Garwa on 25 July 2022; Chief Imam of Dadin Kowa Malam Manu who was kidnapped in Dadin kowa on 13 August 2022.


 Also listed among victims of the gang are the village head of Dadin kowa was kidnapped in Dadin kowa Gassol L.G on 9th August 2022; Abdul'aziz Yunusa who was kidnapped in BabaJuli of Bali L.G on 4/th of July 2022; Baban Nenne was also kidnapped in Zudai on 15th May 2022


They also claimed Kara Kuka Village in  Gassol Local Governmnet area was attacked by the gang and about 12 people were killed including Saedu Bala, Habibu Chul, Ila Garin Gidado.   Yakubu Adamu among others


The residents wonder people were accusing the vigilante of killing innocent people, Alh Hussaini Dali from Dali Village who spoke to our correspondent said since the killing of the gang, members of the communities sleep with their two eyes closed.


“We are calling on the government and security agencies to launch a details probe into the activities of these people to unravel the truth.


 Those claiming these people are not bandits or kidnappers should provide evidences, some victims were rescued, our people are happy and government should provide more security for our communities

 


“These development shows that Government should embrace community policing system because it will help flush out banditry in the state,” Dali said.


However Chairman Tabbital Pulaku Taraba State Chapter, Bello Ahmed Belal  disagreed that those killed were not bandits, saying the attack was  targeted on a particular tribe.


“The vigilante group went after our people in the name of killing bandits, there are bad people in all tribes, so its wrong to go to homes and kill some people because their tribal persons are involved in banditry, they should have identify the kidnappers and not just to go after anybody who is relate to them.


"They should have identify the bandits to the leaders of the tribe in the area, its wrong for killing people because government did not asked them to kill anyone.”