Residents of Takum, a local government area in Taraba State, have raised concern about the negative implications of the conflict between the Nigerian Army and herdsmen, stating that it has displaced many people and subjected them to hunger.
According to some community dwellers who spoke with EnviroNews about the incident, they said the herdsmen stole part of their food, like rice, guinea corn, and yam, while others were burnt down during a military operation in the area.
On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) began a series of clearance operations across various bandit hideouts in the state, including New Gboko and Che Adekpe.
According to a circular signed on Saturday, November 30, 2024, by Captain Olubodunde Oni, acting assistant director, 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, the operation was conducted as part of the military’s resolve and efforts to prevent the state from becoming a haven for criminals.
Unfortunately, people of these communities have had different reactions to this military drill, asserting that there was no threat to them and that everything was quiet before the invasion disrupted their activities.
“We were all seated in our market square when we received reports that the army was on their way to our village; we ran away,” Avalumun Gbatar, an inhabitant from New Gboko, stated.
Gbatar claimed that his community’s residents are unaware of the factors that led to the military action, which resulted in the burning of their homes and crops that were saved for this year’s planting season.
“As it is, I don’t know what I will do, as a bag of groundnut is close to one N100,000,” he lamented.
Similarly, when recounting her own story, Vic Igba affirmed that there was no crisis in Tor Adekpe at the time the military forces occupied the village.
Igba went on to disclose that everyone was sitting pleasantly when the military arrived with armoured vehicles and began shooting and setting buildings on fire without consulting any locals about their intentions.
“Look at the shells from the bullets they have used; these are sophisticated weapons,” she said, alluding to the fact that they are now living in fear because they do not know exactly the reason behind why their community is under the military siege.
“We at Tor Adekpe village do not know who sent them, but we just want the world to know what is happening,” she hinted.
According to the woman, she and her husband are currently living in the ruins of their burnt-out house because they have nothing to sell to fix it after the army destroyed their principal source of income.
By Lubem Philip Myaornyi