Insecurity: Security officials repel attack by Cameroonian militia

EMMANUEL AWARI, Jalingo

Residents of Manga of Takum Local government of Taraba State have cried out of the constant killings in their Community by the Cameroonian militias.

The residents of the Community which shares boundaries with Cameroon narrated the role played by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service during the invasion by Ambazonian militia.

Our Correspondent gathered that Cameroon stormed the village last week, killing the monarch and some of his subjects.

When the committee, which the Taraba State Government set up to look into the issue visited the community on Saturday, Abubakar Manga, spokesman of the village, said: “Thirteen people, including three children, were killed; while 20 others were missing, but for the immigration officials on ground at the time of the attack, the entire community would have been wiped out”.

He told the committee that the militia crossed the river and invaded the community through the mountain’s site at about 6am on Tuesday.

Manga said the militia first attacked the house of the village head and killed him.

He said when the immigration officials responded with fire, the attackers withdrew immediately.

Manga added that the immigration officials rescued some people that fell into the river.

He said the lack of a mobile network in the village worsened the situation because they could not make distress calls.

On the reason for the attacks by the Ambazonian militia in the community, the spokesperson said: “They are our kinsmen; we speak the same language. So, when they ran to us, we had no option than to give them refuge and that is our only offence.”

Speaking, the Chief of Kashibila, Zakari Musa, said lack of communication and presence of army in most of the border areas put inhabitants at risk of attacks by both Ambazonian militia and Cameroonian soldiers.

According to him, during the Late Sani Abacha regime, all border communities were manned by soldiers and other security agents, who prevented aggression from neighbouring Cameroon.

He commended Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and Takum Army Battalion for the deployment of soldiers in Manga.

”We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the deployment of soldiers to man all border communities to secure the country’s international borders.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Information, Danjuma Adamu, told the affected community that the Governor was concerned about their safety.

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