In a concerning escalation of security challenges in Taraba state, unidentified gunmen targeted the traditional ruler of Pupule, Alhaji Umaru Abubakar Nyala, along with a pregnant woman and two resident police officers in a predawn abduction. The assailants fired shots, creating panic and hindering immediate resistance, marking the third kidnapping for ransom in the village within six months.
Law enforcement agencies, including a combination of striking forces, anti-kidnapping units, vigilantes, and professional hunters, are intensifying efforts to rescue the kidnapped individuals and restore calm to the beleaguered community.
The incident adds to the prevailing sense of insecurity in Taraba, following the recent brutal killing of a village head in Ibbi local government council. Suspected hired assassins attacked the residence of the District Head of Sarkin Kudu, Alhaji Ali Adamu Saleh, resulting in his tragic death.
The police have arrested three individuals in connection with the murder, yet tension remains high as the slain district head’s relatives and enraged youths contemplate retaliatory actions against the suspects’ village. Meanwhile, separate attacks by shadowy bandits in Bali local government area claimed the lives of eighteen hunters, highlighting the urgent need for government and community support to equip hunters adequately.
As the security situation unfolds, additional incidents include the killing of two farmers in Yangtu Special Development Area by unknown gunmen. The victims, hailing from Kpambo village, were attacked while harvesting crops, adding to the grim toll in a region grappling with recurring violence.
The Taraba police command is yet to receive an official report on this incident, underscoring the broader challenges faced by authorities in addressing and curtailing the escalating security threats in the state.
IMAGE: Forefront
