Members of the Taraba State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, expressed concern over the activities of armed bandits and terrorists which they said have taken over some villages and communities in the state.
The members at the floor of the House in a motion jointly sponsored by members from both Taraba north and south constituencies, urged the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to immediately liaise with the Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau State governments to establish a Joint Border Security Patrol to curb the trans-border criminality.
The motion was sponsored by Abubakar John Tanko Yusuf- Takum 1 Constituency John Lamba – Takum II Constituency Joshua Urenyang Rikupki-Ussa Constituency, Angye Josiah Yaro – Wukari II Constituency, Jethro Yakubu Zikengyu – Wukari | Constituency and Annas Shuaibu – Karim-Lamido II.
The lawmakers demanded that security checkpoints along Manya – Takum highway and from Takum to Ussa be immediately restored to check the influx of criminal elements into the hinterland.
They called for the deployment of adequate security in affected areas to contain the incessant attacks on people.
Seeking urgent measures to contain the situation on the floor of the House, they said ”bandits and terrorists have taken advantage of the crisis to take over control of some villages and communities”
They reported that Tati, Muje, Kpashi, Basang, Shenta, Kpashembe, Rikwen, Tumbu Kwaribe, Yadi among others are villages now being overrun by bandits, lamenting that the terrorists, have forcefully ejected the original inhabitants and turned their farmlands into grazing fields, banditry camps and safe havens for other criminal activities such as kidnapping.
