Insecurity: Taraba Under Siege As Kidnappers Sack 30 Villages

- Soldiers, Hunters Sweep On Bandits

Since the governorship elections concluded in Taraba, the State has come under siege following incessant attacks by kidnappers. The latest are attacks on some 30 villages in Ardo Kola Local Government Area. In a swift response to the attacks by the bandits, soldiers and hunters launched a counter-attack yesterday in Ardo Kola LGA, sending the bandits scampering for their lives. Witnesses said the kidnappers invaded Lamido Borno Ward in their numbers, sacking the villages and forcing villagers to scamper for their lives, even as the rampaging, knife-wielding men abducted many. When Taraba News visited the Ward on Monday, the villages had been deserted.

The villages torched by the kidnappers include Baka Laide, Ven'du Nage, Shakawo, wuro Adam, Wuro Ladde, Wuro Baka, Jauro Jalo, Garin Sheudo, Wuro Ardo, Safayarna, Wuro Bayo, Buba Lamu, Na Huta Bassa, and Wuro Tori. 

Others are Digum, Kasa Kuru, Wuro Alkali, Lamido Borno, Wuro Yayi, Nyapuri Manstubi A, Manstubi B, Jauro Nanka, Tsamiya, Yakokko Lamido Borno, Wuro Mashi, and Bassa 2. 

Residents of all these villages deserted  their  houses to escape from the deadly attacks. Most of them  are now taking refuge in Sunkani, headquarters of Ardo Kola Local Government Area. 

Our reporter observed that people displaced by the bandits continued to troop to Sunkani, thereby overstretching that local council administrative headquarters.

Taraba News gathered that a majority of the displaced people were women and children,  who had to trek barefooted to Sunkani to escape the terror of the bandits. They looked haggard and hungry as they were hosted by residents and relatives or traditional leaders in Sunkani. Efforts were also being made to take some of the internally displaced people (IDPs) to government buildings such as schools.

The Kuru Sunkani, Sulaiman Bello appealed to authorities concerned and humanitarian organizations to assist the displaced people, stressing that they urgently need food, water, and shelter. The Kuru Sunkani disclosed that there were more than 100 displaced children in his house alone, adding that the food he had would not exceed 24 hours.

Also speaking, the Ward Head of Tudun Wada in Sunkani, Fidelis Francis, stated that he was hosting more than 200 IDP women and children, whil calling on the government at all levels to come to their aid.