Insecurity: How Bandits Abduct Scores, Kill Three In Taraba State

In Bali town, the administrative centre of Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, bandits attacked and killed three people on Sunday night while purportedly kidnapping scores of others.

On the phone, a number of sources in Bali confirmed to our correspondent at BrandNewsDay that the assailants, who were on motorcycles, first attacked and killed Taraba Marshall soldiers at a checkpoint close to the General Hospital before moving on to specific homes to kill and kidnap individuals.

Two of his followers were killed and scores—mostly women—were kidnapped in the attack, according to Zaki David Gbaa (Ter Tiv Bali II), the Tiv central leader and Chief of Tiv in Bali.

“The attackers invaded the town at about 11: pm. Two of my subjects were killed in the attack, and two others who were badly injured are receiving treatment in the hospital.

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“Many people, especially women, were abducted. It’s a terrible situation and I want to call on the government and security agencies to sit up and ensure the protection of the lives and property of citizens.

“For over four hours, the bandits held the town shooting sporadically and there was no response from security agencies. People are losing hope in the government’s ability to protect them and I think the bandits are no more than our security agencies,” he said.

While urging the government to assist the injured who are receiving medical care in hospitals, the traditional leader made the same request.

A driver was killed and passengers were kidnapped by bandits who had blocked the Mutum-Biyu-Garba Chede road in the neighbouring Gassol Local Government region of the State just three days before the incident.

BrandNewsDay attempts to get the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, to respond to the attack were unsuccessful since he did not answer calls left on his number.

The PPRO, however, was reportedly present at a security briefing, according to a police officer from the Taraba State Police Command.

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