Controversy surrounds killing of 12 persons in Taraba

While the Caretaker Chairman of Bali Local Government, Micah Dakka, confirmed that vigilante group members operating in the area killed 12 bandits, the chairman of the vigilante group in the area, Mr Gidado Sabuzy, disassociated the group from carrying out the attack.

Dakka had on Monday told journalists in an interview that vigilante members trailed the bandits from the neighbouring Gassol Local Government Area and overpowered them around Dogoruwa village of Bali Local Government, killing 12 of them.

But at a press briefing in Jalingo on Sunday, the chairman of the vigilante group operating in Gassol and Bali local government areas, Mr Gidado Sabuzy, dissociated the group from the attack on Zudai village in Bali where 12 people were killed and many injured.

Sabuzy said the group has nothing to do with the attack and it has no link whatsoever with the perpetrators of the evil act as their mode of operation differs from that of his group.

“Our group is law-abiding and our efforts are to provide security in communities and foster unity among the people of these two Local Government Areas.

“We are always assisting security agencies in neutralising bandits and kidnappers in Gassol and Bali and not killing, miming or rustling their cattle.

“Many a time, our operations have yielded positive results as peace has returned in most villages of Gassol and Bali in particular and Taraba State in general before this barbaric act.

“Our group has brought peace between farmers and herders and businesses are going on day and night without hindrances.

“We are in full support of Governor Darius Ishaku’s peace mantra of, ‘Give me peace and I will give you development’. We, therefore, call on the Taraba State government and security agencies to look into the matter and fish out the perpetrators of this evil act to face justice for peace to reign,” Sabuzy appealed.