Taraba community seek security protection over violence threats Violence

By Martins Abochol

The residents of Piou community in Bali local government area of Taraba have appealed to the state government to provide them with security  protection  against violence threats in the area. Mr Micheal Dadu, Leader of the Tiv community in Piou made the appeal while addressing newsmen in Jalingo on Saturday.

Dadu recalled that the Chairman of  Ball local government,  Aboki Dauda earlier ordered the traditional ruler of Zudai,  Mallam Mijinyawa Mohammed to return the over 4, 000 hectres farmlands he had seized from Tiv community  back to their original owners.

He explained that  after the resolution and directive by the council that their farmlands be returned to them unconditionally,  they were  faced with serious threats to lives and  violence in the area.

He also stated that some of the buyers who now occupied their farmlands carried arms of different kinds to the farms as another way of intimidating them.

Dadu added that the illegal occupants were building houses after they had domilished the original existing structures and we're chasing them out of their homes in the area.

Dadu said that the situation which was worrisome has made them to place the general public on notice,  in an event  anything happened to the members of the Tiv community in Piou, the Kindred Head should be held responsible.

" We are faced with violence threats and threats to our lives by those who have bought our farmlands.

" As I speak, they brandish all sort of weapons and they have being threatening all kinds of violence attacks against us.

" They have built and ate building houses on our farmlands after destroying our houses, wells, graves and economic trees.

" We are calling on the state and local governments and security agencies to act fast so as to forstall  peace within our community.

" To us, we are law abiding and believe in the abilities of  both the state and the local governments that they can bring this situation under control.

" What we face day by day is similar to "Night fall in Soweto' where the environment is full of fear and tribulations'' he said.

It will be recalled that the Bali local government council had ordered the traditional ruler of Zudai to return the farmlands he seized from Tiv community in the area within two weeks.