6 Soldiers killed, others missing in Taraba attack

Six soldiers have been killed and three others declared missing in an attack by gunmen in Karim-Lamido Local Government of Taraba State.


The attack took place yesterday between Amar and Kambari in Karim-Lamido council when the suspected Fulani militiamen ambushed the soldiers who were on patrol in the area which shared its boundary with Plateau State.

An eyewitness hinted that the soldiers were taken unaware and lamented that “my brother is one of the soldiers who were killed; so I am not in any way exaggerating at all.”

The resident expressed displeasure over the spate of insecurity in the area and the state at large, and called on the Federal Government to intervene in the situation, as according to him, the lukewarm attitude of the state government had continued to give the attackers the upper hand.

Another account said that there was crisis between the Yargam community in Plateau State and the Kola community in Taraba State where a lot of people were killed.
The slain soldiers were allegedly in the area to maintain law and order when they were killed by the gunmen.
The council chairman, Bobbo Bello Bendu, who confirmed the incident, said that he was waiting for the relevant authorities to take appropriate measures, noting that the people were living in fears in the area.
Bendu said that he has been reporting to the appropriate authorities the security situation in the area.
The council boss said he has done a lot by not only reporting but by being in constant touch with the village head and other stakeholders of the affected area, stressing that police as a matter of urgency re-deployed anti-riot men in the community.
Nigerian Pilot learnt that some terrified residents have fled the area for fear of reprisal attack by the soldiers.
The state command Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Kwaji, said he was not in position to speak on issues relating to the military.
At the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, where the corpses of the soldiers have been deposited, Nigerian Pilot learnt that there was a drama as military personnel and some Mobile policemen who had come earlier to remove the remains of their member shot into the air to the anger of the troops who barricaded the entrance of the hospital and also fired into the air thereby creating a scene.

Nigerian Pilot