Boko Haram is Regrouping in Forests in Taraba, Warns Ishaku

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has raised the alarm that members of the Boko Haram terrorist group dislodged from Sambisa forest by the army are regrouping in Suntai Daaji forest in the state.

Besides the Suntai Daaji forest, which cut across Bali and Donga Local Government Areas of the state, the governor also revealed that some of the fleeing members of the terrorist group are also regrouping inside the Gashaka/Gumti National Park.

Ishaku, who made the disclosure while receiving the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Divison of the Nigerian Army Division Enugu, Major General Adamu Abubakar, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Jalingo, urged the federal government to deploy special security forces to flush out the terrorists from the forests before the country would have another Sambisa in her hands.

The governor lamented that the terrorists are currently holding the people of the state hostage as they commit all sorts of crime including rape, kidnapping and killings, adding that people can no longer travel freely along Bali-Suntai-Takum road due to the activities of the group.

“The massive influx of people into Taraba for some time now has been the major cause, of insecurity facing us. But when I was warning of the repercussions, I was accused of hating a particular tribe, but today all of us are victims of their criminal activities.

Speaking on the activities of killers that have led to violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country, the governor advocated ranching, saying it is the only panacea to end the clashes and put an end to cattle rustling.

“Our problem in Nigeria is that we don’t tell ourselves the truth. Why is it that herdsmen are going about with AK47 rifles freely without being arrested. Where are the AK47 coming from into the country and what happen to our security at the border.

“We need to have a deep reflection on these issues and prevent further loss of lives. The population of Nigeria before independence is not the same as now and we must think and look inward to solve these problems associated with open grazing,” he said.

Speaking earlier, General Abubakar said he was in the state to address the issue of farmers/herders clashes and assess the general security situation of the state.