Ambazonian Attack: We are committed to protecting lives and property

Ambazonian Attack: We are committed to protect lives and property of our people – Gov. Ishaku

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has restated his administration’s commitment toward the protection of lives and property of the people of the state.

Ishaku stated this through the State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Hon. Danjuma Adamu when he led a delegation to Manga community that were attacked recently by the Cameroonian militia.

Manga community in Takum local government area of Taraba State, shares boundaries with the Republic of Cameroon.

The state Commissioner for Information. and Reorientation, Hon. Danjuma Adamu who led a delegation to the area said, they were in the community to see things for themselves instead of hearing from other places.

He told the affected community that Governor Darius Ishaku was concerned about their safety and called on them especially the youths to cooperate with the soldiers that were deployed to the area.

“They have made a request and as a messenger, I will relay the same message back to the governor. We believe that the effort that the state government has taken as you see of protecting lives and property.

“You have seen everything, everything is in place contrary to what we have heard. So, I believe positive result will come out. Hon. Adamu expressed optimism.

Hon. Danjuma Adamu who extended the state government’s condolences to the affected community also assured them that the state will liaise with the federal government to ensure that such incident does not repeat itself.

Residents of the community, have narrated the role played by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service during the invasion by Ambazonian militia.

Spokesperson of the community, Abubakar Manga told the committee that was set up by the Taraba state government to look into the matter when they visited the area on Saturday, that 13 people including three children were killed, while 20 others were displaced.

He informed that, if not because of the immigration officials on the ground at the time of the attack, the entire community would have been wiped out.

According to him, the militia crossed the river and invaded the community through the mountain’s site at about 6 am on Tuesday, adding that they first attacked the house of the village head and killed him.

He maintained that when the immigration officials responded with fire, the attackers withdrew immediately, and the immigration officials also rescued some people that fell into the river.

Abubakar Mango further explained that the lack of a mobile network in the village worsened the situation because they could not make distress calls.

On why the Ambazonian militia attacked the community, the Manga revealed that: “They are our kinsmen; we speak the same language. So, when they ran to us, we had no option but to give them refuge and that is our only offense.”

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

He recalled that during the Late President Sani Abacha’s regime, all border communities were manned by soldiers and other security agents who prevented aggression from neighboring Cameroon.

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

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

On his part, the Chairman of Takum local council, Mr. Shibang Tikari called on the federal government to restrengthen the the security of the area by deploying soldiers and advised members of the community to be security conscious and remain law abiding citizens.

It could be recalled that militia from Cameroon broke into the Manga village last week, killing the monarch and some of his subjects in the area.