Helicopters have dropped arms for herdsmen in preparation for attack on us, Gov Ishaku alleges

Taraba State’s Governor Darius Ishaku has raised the alarm of a possible attack of his people in 10 days time.

He alleged that helicopters on Wednesday night dropped arms for hoodlums believed to be Fulani herdsmen in the state.

The governor also decried the messy security situation in the state, where the reply you get from security agencies when you alert them of imminent danger, is that they (security agencies) need to clear from Abuja before acting.

This was even as the governor revealed that Taraba State buried 63 people at Lau, the same day that Benue State buried 73 of its people.

Governor Ishaku made this disclosure on Thursday in Jalingo, the state capital, when he received members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP NWC members, led by the party’s national chairman, Uche Secondus, were in the state to sympathise with the governor and the people of the state over the death of a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi.

“When I assumed office, I asked my people to give me peace and that I would give development in return. Peace is elusive in Taraba, but we have development. Here I am as a governor with a crown, but without a sword.

“You call police and security agencies for help, they will tell you they need to clear from Abuja before acting. Before you know it, you have lost 100 people.

“When you call for help, the help takes ages to come. We need to restructure the security architecture of this country. You take one step forward as the governor, the almighty Federal Government takes you back 10 miles.

“The police we have can’t help themselves. In 10 days’ time, we will be attacked. Helicopters dropped arms here at night for hoodlums. We will talk because if the Federal Government cannot help us, let those who can help us come to our aid.

“Our farmers cannot travel at night with their goods to neighbouring states to sell again. God gave us good land, but we lack common sense. I’m talking now since writing has not produced the desired results. Some of these things are not meant to be said, but we will henceforth be talking.

READ ALSO: Insecurity growing by the day –Gov Ishaku

“We buried 63 people at Lau, the same day that Benue State buried 73 of its people. We are in trouble in this country. If our voices are not heard in Abuja, they can be heard in Kano, Niger Republic, United States of America and other places,” the governor said.

Secondus, who spoke earlier, told the governor that he and members of his team were in the state to condole with the people on the death of the lawmaker.

While noting that “the first duty of any government” which is to provide security for its citizens, the PDP chairman called on the members of the National Assembly to investigate those behind the alleged dropping of arms and expose the perpetrators.

He further urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review the country’s security architecture to curb the senseless killings in the country.

 

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