Taraba community raises alarm over militia planned attacks

Tor-Damsa, a Tiv community located in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State, has raise an alarm over planned attacks on its villages by suspected Fulani militia.

The Association of the people within area, The Ugondo Mdema Development Association (UMDA) raise the alarm in the early hours of Sunday, stating that there were plans by suspected Fulani militia to attack Tor-Damisa community.

A statement signed by Joel Iorember, the Chairman of the UMDA, which was made available to newsmen in Jalingo, said tension was already brewing within the community as a result of the treats by suspected Fulani militia.

“Thousands of residents within and around Tor-Damisa are fleeing for their safety to neighbouring communities. We call on security agents, the local, state and federal governments to come to our aids.

“Tor-Damisa, a community dominated by farmers was in recent times faced serial attacks on their farms by the suspected Fulani herdsmen, having several people killed while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

“The troops of Nigerian Army stationed in Abako at the Taraba/Benue border while working on credible intelligence bursted a Fulani militia camp in Tsav-Nomchongo village in Abako Tor-Damisa community, the troops recovered large cache of arms and ammunition.

“We are calling on the Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas and security agencies to take proactive measures in restoring normalcy in Tor-Damisa to enable residents to return to their ancestral homes and continue with their farming businesses”, the statement noted.

Iorember commended security agencies within Donga Local Government Area for their show of concern by responding to some of the treats in recent times, urging the Police and Army to be on the watch for the pending attacks on Tor-Damisa community.

“We are worried that this conflict is resurfacing after all efforts have being made in the past to restore normalcy in the community. The intelligence at our disposal suggests that the suspected Fulani militia have planned to carry out another deadly attack on Tor-Damisa community.

“Our sources reveal that the Fulani herdsmen claimed that two of their cows were stolen around Tor-Damisa, prompting their planned attack. As I speak, they have already chased away our farmers and have destroyed their crops and farmlands, displacing them twice in this year.

“As it stands, Fulani herdsmen are occupying our villages and there is no way our people can go back and continue with their day to day activities”, he stated.

It will be recall that three policemen and the Chairman of Vigilance Group in Tor-Damisa were killed early this year while during the crisis between herders and farmers within the Tor-Damisa area.