Killing Of 12 Alleged Bandits By Vigilante Group Generates Controversy In Taraba State

By Akinwale Kasali

There is palpable crisis in Zudai village, near Dogon-Ruwa community in the Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

A controversy arose over the alleged killing of 12 persons suspected to be bandits.

Last Sunday, the Caretaker Chairman of Bali Local Government, Micah Dakka, confirmed that vigilante group members operating in the area killed 12 bandits. But it was, however, debunked by Gidado Sabuzy, Chairman of the Vigilante Group in the area.

Sabuzy was swift to disassociate himself from the Group that carried out the killings on the alleged 12 Bandits.

Despite Sabuzy distancing himself and his vigilante group from carrying out the attack. Dakka had, last Monday, told journalists in an interview that vigilante members had trailed the bandits from the neighbouring Gassol Local Government Area and overpowered them around Dogoruwa village of Bali Local Government, killing 12 of them.

The statement by Dakka prompted Sabuzy to hold a press briefing today, October 9th 2022, in Jalingo, Taraba State Capital, to publicly debunk the claim by Dakka.

Sabuzy is the Chairman of the Vigilante Group that operates in Gassol and Bali local government areas, dissociated the group from the attack on Zudai village in Bali where 12 people were killed and many injured.

He said the group had nothing to do with the attack and it has no link whatsoever with the perpetrators of the evil act as their mode of operation differs from that of his group.

“Our group is law-abiding and our efforts are to provide security in communities and foster unity among the people of these two Local Government Areas.

“We are always assisting security agencies in neutralising bandits and kidnappers in Gassol and Bali and not killing, miming or rustling their cattle.

“Many a time, our operations have yielded positive results as peace has returned in most villages of Gassol and Bali in particular and Taraba State in general before this barbaric act.

“Our group has brought peace between farmers and herders and businesses are going on day and night without hindrances.

“We are in full support of Governor Darius Ishaku’s peace mantra of, ‘Give me peace and I will give you development’. We, therefore, call on the Taraba State government and security agencies to look into the matter and fish out the perpetrators of this evil act to face justice for peace to reign,” Sabuzy appealed.