Falana, Jukuns raise alarm over unreported killings in Taraba

THE Jukuns in Taraba State yesterday raised alarm over a series
of killings by gunmen and suspected kidnappers in the southern part
of the state within the last few weeks.

Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and the Junkun Development
Association of Nigeria, at a news conference at the Falana and
Falana law firm, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, GRA, Ikeja, expressed concern
over the killings – many of which they lamented “go
unreported”.

The association’s National President, Bako Benjamin, said no
fewer than 148 Junkuns abducted from their houses in the last few
weeks are still being held in captivity by gunmen.

He said there are other victims, who are Yoruba, Igbo, and other
tribes, adding that the association could not give their names
because they did not have them.

Benjamin said the situation in Takun communities in southern
Taraba State is worse than what is happening in Zamfara State.

“In the past, people get removed from their cars, if you are
traveling in a flashy car on the roads and they take to the bush.
But today, because people have avoided the roads, they go to houses
and removed people from their houses and demanded for ransom and
sometimes, even after ransom is paid, they still kill them.

“As we speak, one Alhaji Mayo, who runs some filling stations in
Takun, he was removed from his house, taken to the bush and they
used his phones to call his family and demanded N200 million. They
negotiated and after selling a lot of his property, they managed to
raise N105 million, which they collected.

“As if that was not enough, they told the wife to drive all the
man’s cars to a location. They took all the cars and drove them
away. Just yesterday (Saturday), the younger brother called and
said they have been impoverished. The man is still with them in the
bush in captivity.

“A hotelier, Ahmadu Emmanuel, they wanted to abduct him from his
house. He resisted, he was shot dead in cold blood. That was two
weeks ago.

“One Sule Audu, a medical doctor, they abducted him too from
Takun. They asked for N10 million. After they mobilised and tried
and sourced the money and delivered, they switched off their
phones. Another group used another phone to call the family and
said, ‘where is the money?’. They said ‘we’ve given you the money’
and they said they must have given it to another group. Look, your
man is with us, better go and look for another N10 million to
secure his release. The daughter, who is also a doctor, just
collapsed and she is still in a coma as we speak.”

He listed other people abducted by from their homes as including
one lawyer, Yagura Lena, who still being held after a ransom was
paid; one Joy Ubadene, who is still in captivity and a member of
the state assembly, Osia Aiyegbe, who was killed after a ransom was
paid.

“We are in deep trouble, far worse from what is happening in
Zamfara. Our people no longer travel home and those at home have
started leaving to join their families in Lagos. Except something
is done urgently, the Jukun communities in Taraba would become
extinct,” he said.

Benjamin said commercial activities have grounded to a halt
throughout Taraba.

Benjamin and Falana urged state governors, together with the
president, to take charge of the situation by setting up
appropriate policing agencies.

He lamented that state governors have abdicated their
responsibility to the President, adding that is why the impression
is being given as if what the country has is a federal police
force.

Falana said the 1999 Constitution (as amended) envisaged that
police powers shall be managed by the president and the
governors.

“Between 2003 and now, the National Assembly has established
Civil Defence Corps with powers to bear arms. In addition, the
Prison Service, Customs, Immigration, and others are also allowed
to bear arms whereas Section 214 of the Constitution says, there
shall be only one police force in Nigeria.

“So if the Federal Government sets up forces and other agencies
that can bear arms, why are state governors shying away?” he
asked.

He noted that the President once expressed the fear that a state
that cannot pay salaries cannot be allowed to arm young men and
women.

He contended that if the security of the country must be
ensured, the salaries and allowances of security personnel for
every state should be deducted from the source so that the question
of not being paid would not arise.