Taraba killings: powerful demigods are killing our people to steal our stool- Group alleges
Taraba killings: powerful demigods are killing our people to steal our stool- Group alleges
Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Following Friday’s killing of over Twelve persons in communities across Takum and Ussa local government areas as well as Yangtu Special Development area of Taraba State, the Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), an umbrella body of the Ketub tribe, has alleged that the Kuteb people are targeted for cleansing because of the Stool of Ukwe Takum.
National President of the group Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen made the allegations during a press conference in Jalingo on Monday.
Ukwen noted that the attacks, allegedly carried out by bandits, have been going on for over a year and targets the Kuteb communities exclusively, despite the fact that there are other ethnic groups in the local government.
He further said that the move by the state government to install an Ukwen Takum of Chamber extraction rather than a Kuteb who are the rightful heirs to the stool confirms that the attacks are more of ethic cleansing than just random attacks.
“We express our dismay in the light of the recent horrific events happening in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as the Yangtu Special Development Area. The recent attacks have left scores of people brutally massacred and Communities scattered, unleashing pure unadulterated evil on our people. There is no rationalizing it, no excusing it. Period! The brutality we saw would have cut deep anywhere in Nigeria, but it cuts deeper in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as the Yangtu Special Development Area, knowing that these activities have continued unabated for too long despite the heavy presence of security operatives in the area.
“It is evident that the unrest has opened doors for various criminal groups resulting to banditry, kidnappings, robberies, rapes and other atrocious acts in the area. It is no longer secret that some of our local Communities have been taken over by hired mercenaries who have continued to occupy our Homes, Churches and School buildings. The Taraba State Government, Police Force, DSS and all other Security operatives must reinforce and expedite actions towards reclaiming our land and restoring peace and order in that area.
“We want to draw to public attention that the persistent unrest in the Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas as well as Yangtu Special Development Area is as a result of the ungoverned tribal space created by the vacuum of the Ukwe Takum Stool for almost 30 years. Regrettably, it has been insinuated in some quarters that some powerful self- serving demi-gods are bent on punishing our innocent people on the grand design to rob us of our traditional Stool by installing a non-Kuteb person as Ukwe Takum.
“This allegation is borne out on the unveiled plan to install a Chamba man as Ukwe Takum, come December, 2023. There is also facilitate a fraudulent Bill to be passed into Law on the Ukwe Stool to alter the existing Customs and Traditions of the Stool. We implore His Excellency, Govenor Agbu Kefas to study carefully the history of the Ukwe Takum Stool as contained in our earlier submission dated 10th August, 2023. Based on the foregoing, the Kuteb Nation wishes to state with loud voice that the Ukwe Takum Stool is the exclusive preserve of the Kuteb tribe, and it is the paramount throne in the area. It therefore cannot be rotated, shared by or relinquished to any person or tribe other than as prescribed by the Customs and Traditions of Kuteb. This has been the “TRIPOD” principle in the area, practiced conformation to the Stools of Aku Uka, Wukari and Gara, Donga. Also, the State Government should prioritize appointing Ukwe Takum according Kuteb Native Law and Customs before upgrading any newly created Chiefdoms in that region.
Read Also: Police, DSS neutralise 3-man POS robbery gang in Enugu
Reacting to the allegations, Honorable Emmanuel Bello, SA to the state Governor on Media and Digital Communications said that the state governor Dr Agbu Kefas is immensely disturbed by the attacks and is not leaving any stone un turned to bring lasting solutions.
“Governor Agbu Kefas is always deeply touched by any acts of aggression on his people. He sees the images coming out of Ussa and Yangtu, as a matter of fact everywhere else. He gets daily briefings of security situations as it is part of his responsibility. He has been in pains about them like everyone else who is human enough. But as the Chief Security officer of the state, his reactions go beyond mere emotions.
“The Governor has responded swiftly to the current round of violence and has swiftly dispatched his Deputy Governor to visit the affected areas. As I speak now, a high powered Security Council meeting is ongoing to plan a robust strategy to stem the tide of these attacks and ensure that those displaced return to their homes” Emmanuel Bello said.
