Monarch blames Taraba killings on alleged criminal elements from Benue

The first-class traditional ruler of Takum, Barrister Sopiya Ahmadu Gboshi lll, has alleged that the majority of the criminal activities in the area are carried out by elements from the neighbouring Katsina-Ala local government council.

The monarch stated this on Wednesday, in a statement made available to journalists in the state, while soliciting for calm and restraint from citizens of the council against the backdrop of recent killings in the area. He said the government and stakeholders are working hard to unravel the identities of the perpetrators of the killings and bring them to book.

He said, “These criminal activities are mostly perpetrated within and by criminal elements from the neighbouring local government areas especially Katsina-Ala local government council of Benue State.”

Expressing his resolve to continue to work with the government and security agencies to bring an end to any sort of killings in the area, he cautioned against any form of reprisal attacks in the area.

“The security agencies, the government and stakeholders are working hard to unravel the identities of the perpetrators of the killings and bring them to book,” he stated

The paramount ruler, who noted with disdain that the killings had been unwarranted and dastardly, suggesting a wicked and mischievous agenda of some evil people, commended the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for the result-oriented security measures being implemented in the area.

He however enjoined the government to scale up the operations and deployments of security agencies, as the attackers have become more daring, to counter them and ensure they are completely routed out.

The monarch urged his subjects and the entire people of the state to always report suspicious characters or acts to security agencies for prompt action.

The Guardian reports that six passengers travelling along the Takum-Wukari road were on Monday morning gruesomely murdered in Takum by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

He recalled the sad incidents happening when the memory of the gruesome killing of the Third Class Chief of Chanchanji and his son is still fresh in the minds of the people in the area.