Bandits Take Over Eight Communities, Restrict Residents’ Movement

Residents of eight communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State are reportedly living under growing insecurity as suspected armed groups allegedly restrict their movement, steal property and threaten anyone who reports their activities to security agencies.

The affected communities are Kommodoro, Telejugu, Paskari, Farin-Ruwa, Dinya, Jamaga, Macijin Kirya and Chibi, located around the borders of Taraba, Plateau and Bauchi states.

The situation was disclosed by a community leader, Hon. Tanko Bobbo, who said the activities of the armed groups had made it increasingly difficult for residents to seek help from security authorities.

Bobbo revealed that 10 of the 15 people recently kidnapped in the area had returned home, although he did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their release.

He alleged that the gunmen operate from forest locations in Plateau State, crossing into Taraba to attack communities before retreating to their hideouts.

According to him, their activities include stealing harvested farm produce, breaking into business premises and subjecting residents to threats and intimidation.

The community leader also alleged that women in the affected settlements had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of the armed men.

He further claimed that the gunmen had warned residents against reporting their movements to security agencies, threatening to kill anyone suspected of providing information about their activities.

The attacks reportedly continued on Thursday, when a farmer was shot while travelling to his farm between Jebjeb and Kampani, a settlement along the Taraba-Plateau boundary.

In a separate incident, another farmer was allegedly attacked with a machete at about 9am, sustaining an injury to his hand.

Bobbo acknowledged the Taraba State Government’s efforts to address the security challenges, particularly through the mobilisation of local hunters, provision of operational logistics and deployment of security personnel to vulnerable border communities.

He added that the government was pursuing collaboration with neighbouring states to tackle the armed groups and their alleged forest hideouts.

The community leader further disclosed that residents of Kommodoro had recently appealed to local leaders for intervention, expressing fears that they could no longer withstand the repeated attacks and threats.

However, the police said they had yet to establish the details of the reported incidents.

The spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said the Divisional Police Officer in Karim-Lamido had no record of the reported incidents when contacted.