Taraba Attacks: Bandits Kill Two, Kidnap One, Injure Police Officer

Unknown gunmen have killed two persons and injured a police officer in separate attacks on villages in Taraba State.

The attacks took place in Wukari and Donga local government areas of the state.

In Yoina village within Wukari LGA, a heavy-duty vehicle driver named Aweza Abdullahi was killed by some yet to identified gunmen.

Confirming the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview, the Chairman of the Wukari Local Government Area, Mr Daniel Grace revealed that the truck belongs to Dangote Cement Company and that the driver was shot while conveying cement.

Mr Grace further revealed that the remains of the deceased who was identified by his colleagues have since been returned to his family for burial.

Similarly, in neighboring Donga Local Government Area (LGA), a student of ECWA Seminary School, was in the early hours of Wednesday killed on his farm.

The incident was confirmed by the LGA chairman Mr. Nashuka Musa.

Mr Musa further revealed that the victim went to the farm with a friend who the council head says was kidnapped by the bandits.

He also said that relatives have not received any calls from the bandits as to know if he is still alive or not, or ‘even to know what their demands are’.

Mr Musa stressed that the community have held several meetings and warned that no one should go to his or her farmlands until peace returns to the area, stressing that he is shocked to know that individuals still go to farms despite several warnings.

According to Mr Musa, the name of the slain student pastor is Mr Jonah Audu from Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state, while the abducted friend is Mr Mazan Koro from Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba.

Meanwhile, in Takum local government area of the state, three commercial vehicles conveying passengers from Wukari to Takum were attacked along Kufai-Amadu road.

According to the chairman of the council, Mr Shiban Tikari, eyewitnesses at the incident revealed to him that a police patrol van ran into the bandits operating and in the process, one of the policemen was shot.

Mr Shiban said both the injured police officer and other travelers are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The chairman said shortly after the incident he mobilized some youths and security operatives in the area who trailed the attackers suspected to be kidnappers to the border between Taraba and Benue.

He disclosed the name of the injured policeman as Sgt. Mohammad Abdullahi. He also revealed the names of the bus driver and conductor who were injured as Mallam Sadiq Salihu and Mallam lsiaku respectively.

The Taraba State Police public relations officer, Mr David Misal has confirmed all incidents except that of Wukari, which he said the divisional police officer of the council is yet to give him a brief.

Mr Misal said the authorities are investigating the attacks and are doing all that is possible to curb the menace within the region.

Source: Channelstv.