Committee fumes over arrest of LG chairman, family in Taraba

The arrest and detention of the Chairman of the Peace Committee of Chanchanji in Takum Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State have become a source of concern to the members of the committee.

The Chairman, Salem Mela, along with his pregnant wife and six children, were reported to have been arrested in the early hours of Thursday by a team from the Department of State Services (DSS).

Piqued by the development, the leadership of the committee, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Jalingo, expressed deep concern and outright condemnation over the arrest and detention.

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Signed by its secretary, Solomon Kulenkwagh, the committee lamented that “despite our unwavering commitment to promoting peace, we are now witnessing the violation of the rights of one of our key members.”

The arrest of Mela, according to the statement, “is concerning, but even more alarming is the detention of his pregnant wife and their six children.”

“While we understand the role of security agencies in maintaining law and order, the arrest of innocent family members who have no involvement in any alleged activities is completely unjustifiable and goes against the principles of justice and human rights,” the statement read.

Demanding the immediate release of Mela’s wife and children, the committee stated that the ongoing detention of a pregnant woman and young children “is not only inhumane but also an infringement upon their fundamental rights.”

The family, they said, deserves to be informed of their whereabouts and well-being and should not be subjected to further hardship.

They also called on the relevant authorities to act swiftly in rectifying the situation, stressing that “the Peace Committee of Chanchanji Ward remains committed to its mission of promoting peace, and we urge all stakeholders to uphold the values of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights in all actions.”