Kuteb community raises alarm over plan by sponsored mercenaries to attack its villages in Takum, USSA

By Eleojo Samuel, Jalingo

The Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN) had raised alarm of alleged plans by sponsored bandits to attack Kuteb Villages in Takum and USSA villages to chase them from their ancestral homes.

The president general, Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, KYN, Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen disclosed this during a press conference on Saturday at the NUJ press center in Jalingo, Taraba state.

The President disclosed that information available to the people of the area revealed that the bandits are currently using the abandoned Theophilus Danjuma Farm estate, located along Maanya-Takum road in Takum local government area of Taraba state as their camp.

According to the President, the bandits opened fire indiscriminately and killed over seven persons and injured several persons on the road between Mannya and Takum in the past one week.

He said that the bandits who have been killing innocent people and destroying farm products in the area are said to be camping in the abandoned Farm estate constructed by TY Danjuma and has been deserted for over thirty years

Ukwen alerted the Taraba state government and all relevant security agencies that credible intelligence informations available has pointed that coordinated large-scale attacks on the Kuteb communities in southern Taraba was imminent.

“The information available to us shows that unidentified armed groups are planning to lunch massive attacks on villages and towns in Ussa, Takum and Yangtu Development Areas and environs in the coming days or weeks”. He said.

He said that the attackers were mobilised with sophisticated firearms and logistics, adding that it was critical to underscore that the area, especially Kuteb dominated villages have witnessed repeated attacks in the recent time with the view to chasing them away from their homes inoder to deny them participation in the forthcoming voter’s registration.

The President revealed that the likely targeted Communities, include Mbiya area, Tukwog, T.Y Farm, Muji I, Muji II, Basang, Kpashimbe, Acha Sarka, Acha Nyim, Tati, Sabon Gida Kuteb near Manya, Kumbu and Gangu. In Takum LGA.

Kwesati, Kwentam I, Ripaenchin, Kusangsang, Alaha, Kutukwok, Waenja, Tutuwa, Kpambo Puri, Fikyu Nyim, Sați Tsinya, Ukang, Asiq In Ussa LGA.

Mubi Toso, Changso, Zanaka, Gafa, Pomango, Rimamnyang Nyido, Mberogo in Kurmi LGA. Stating that though the bandits are not resident in any part of Yangtu Development Area but they do come in from Basang axis in Takum to destroy crops in Tamiya, Bika Lupwe, Kwambai, Jenuwa Nyifiye, Jenuwa Gida, Jenuwa Kogi, Nyicwu, Ribasi. and Kwari and return to their base.

“We are requesting immediate government and security intervention to prevent large-scale humanitarian crisis, loss of lives and destruction of property. The information available to us shows that there are deliberate plans and coordinated attempts to destabilize the area, especially during the current political activities of the ongoing Voters’ registration exercise and Agricultural activities. Said the President.

Ukwen therefore called for the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to the identified flashpoints, surveillance and reconnaissance operations to verify and monitor armed groups movement and community engagement to avert possible lost of lives and destruction of properties in the area.