Residents of eight communities in Karim‑Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State are facing growing insecurity as suspected armed groups reportedly control access to their villages, steal belongings and threaten anyone who reports their activities to security agencies.
The affected settlements—Kommodoro, Telejugu, Paskari, Farin‑Ruwa, Dinya, Jamaga, Macijin Kirya and Chibi—are situated along the borders of Taraba, Plateau and Bauchi states.
“The gunmen use forest locations in Plateau State as their operational bases, from where they cross into Taraba to raid settlements before withdrawing,” said community leader Hon. Tanko Bobbo. “They take harvested farm produce, break into business premises and subject villagers to threats and intimidation. Women in the affected communities have also suffered sexual abuse.”
Bobbo added that 10 of the 15 people recently kidnapped in the area had returned home, but did not explain how their release was secured. He warned residents against reporting the movements of the armed men to security authorities, threatening to kill anyone suspected of sharing information.
Attacks continued on Thursday when a farmer was shot while travelling to his farm between Jebjeb and Kampani, a settlement on the Taraba‑Plateau boundary. Another farmer was reportedly attacked with a machete, sustaining a hand injury at about 9 am.
In response, the Taraba State Government has mobilised local hunters, provided operational logistics and deployed security personnel to vulnerable border areas. The state is also seeking collaboration with neighbouring states to tackle the armed groups operating from forest bases.
Despite these efforts, the Taraba State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said the District Police Officer in Karim‑Lamido had no record of the reported incidents at the time he was contacted, and police had not established the details of the attacks.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
