Bandits Kill One Soldier Three Farmers In Taraba
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Armed assailants on Monday attacked farmers in Vande village, Amadu, within the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals.
The Traditional Ruler of the Vande Community, Zaki Simon Terhemba, confirmed the incident, stating that the victims were ambushed while harvesting crops, accompanied by soldiers.
Zaki Terhemba reported that approximately eleven vehicles and numerous motorcycles used to transport people to the farms were destroyed.
“The current situation is deeply troubling. Yesterday, my community members, who have farms around Vande in Kofai Amadu village, organized and ventured to harvest crops from their fields. They were accompanied by soldiers for protection.
“Shortly after beginning the harvest, they were subjected to a violent attack by armed assailants who had already devastated their homes and much of their farmland.
“Ten soldiers accompanied civilians to the farms. The civilians utilized eleven private vehicles to transport food items and farm produce. While on the farmland, the group was ambushed by armed Fulani ethnic militia. During the confrontation, the soldiers reportedly exhausted their ammunition, leading to the capture of four soldiers alive.
“One of the captured soldiers, identified as Valentino, who was operating a PKT machine gun, sustained gunshot wounds to the leg and later to the abdomen. He was subsequently killed, and his body was severely mutilated. The attackers reportedly seized his weapon,” he stated.
The spokesperson for the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Umar Muhammad, informed our correspondent that the Brigade is currently investigating the matter.
He emphasized the Brigade’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of the populace and warned that any group instigating unrest will encounter strong resistance from the army.
Our correspondent reports that villages around Kofai-Amadu and Chanchanji have been ravaged by armed assailants, with over a hundred individuals having been killed in the area since the commencement of the harvest season this year.
