Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has vowed to track down attackers of Tor-Damsa community in Donga Local Government area in the state.
Ishaku made the vow on Monday during the distribution of relief materials to the victims of the recent herdsmen attack on Tor-Damsa, a Tiv community in Donga local government area.
It will be recalled that suspected herdsmen recently attacked 16 Tiv villages within Tor-Damsa area killing over 26 persons, destroying properties of unimaginable proportion.
It recalls that some of the villages affected are Afogba, Tse Juku, Utsev, Unom, Shundan, Iorjaa, Adem, Akinde, Tor-Genyi, Kyenge, Gyaase, Yongo among many other communities.
The governor, who was represented by Mr Nashuka Ipayen, Chairman of Donga Local government council appealed to both residents and victims of the attack to remain calm.
He urged them not to take laws into their hands as the security agents were already mobilised to track down the pepatriators.
He gave assurance that the government would boost security for the communities to prevent any future attack on the community.
Ishaku however, advised residents to be alert and watchful to report any suspicious movement to the security operatives.
” I feel very sad for this heinous act and i assure you that the culprit, when found will face the full wrath of the law.
” I am appealing to you to remain calm as we are deploying more security operatives to boost security of this community.
” We have equally mobilised our security agencies to swing into action with the view to tracking down pepatriators of this dastardly act.
” I therefore, appeal to you not to take laws into your hands as security operatives are committed to fish out culprits, so, i will advise you to keep watch and to report any suspicious movement to security personnel,’ he said.
In his remark, Chief Uma Ugondo, Village Head of Tor-Damsa thanked the governor for his show of concern to the victims of the unwarranted attack.
Ugondo also appealed to state government to support the victims who were mostly farmers with farm inputs to enable them cultivate crops in the coming season.
He noted that the attackers had destroyed all the agricultural seeds reserved for the next coming season.
Also speaking, Mr Joshua Ayagwa,, President General of the Tiv Culture and Social Association in Taraba commended Gov Ishaku for his spontaneous responds by deploying security at the heat of the attack.
Ayagwa, who also commended him for the provision of assorted relief materials, adding that the gesture was unitesidented.
He called on Tiv community in the state to continue to support the governor to successfully complete his tenure.He also assured the government of the resolve of the Tiv community to give him the desired peace to succeed.
Our Correspondent reports that the government donated both food and non food items to the victims.
Some of the items includes; Mats blankets, rice, spaghetti, palm oil, vegetable oil, salt, tomatoes among many other items.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent said that the materials would go along way in cushioning the acute hardship occasioned by the attack.
Mr Nathan Nongo commended the state for its quick response to their plight but solicited more security to the area.