Cover Story

How Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman Spent 20m From Mambilla Project Funds To Lodge In Abuja Hotel

At the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bordering on conspiracy to com...

Fears as Kidnappers reign terror in Jalingo, Lau

Fears as Kidnappers reign terror in Jalingo, Lau
•Little child, 2 others kidnapped in Donga
• People no longer sleeping in their homes for fear of being attacked or kidnapped, CAN laments

Residents of Jalingo, Lau and other towns in Taraba state are living in fear of being kidnapped.

Alhaji Yahaya Isa Lau was kidnapped early hours of Thursday a day after the former NBA Chiarman  Taraba State was kidnapped in his house in Jalingo.

Yahaya Lau a brother to Sheik Abdullahi Bala Lau is a‎ former Treasurer Sub-Treasury.

Also  three brothers of Deputy Accountant General Chief Bauten Isa,including a little child‎ were kidnapped in Nyita, Donga LGA o‎n Thursdays morning.

"We heard sporadic gunshots from kidnappers  at about 2.30am in Nyita and three people were taken away by kidnappers. It's very sad, we are no longer safe. Just yesterday eight persons kidnapped around Ndessin on Monday morning were released after a huge ransome was paid."

Also the immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Jalingo branch, Barr. Joel Ubandoma was abducted on early hours of Wednesday.

Ubandoma was picked in his house very close to the Palace of Kuru Kona in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo at about 1:am on Tuesday, a family source said‎
Recent,kidnap of the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Barrister Ubandoma and Alh.
Others kidnap cases were recorded in Jalingo the state capital, Gassol,Bali,Takum and other Local Government Areas are all glaring incidents.‎
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lau is calling on the state and Federal Government to take stringent measures to end the incessant kidnappings and killings in the area, saying people were no longer sleeping in their homes for fear of being attacked or kidnapped.
‎‎
Publicity Secretary of NBA Jalingo branch, Confirmed the incident Boniface Iorkumbur said the NBA family in Jalingo received the news of the abduction of Joel Daniel Ubandoma with shock and pray for his quick release.

"We woke up this morning with the devastating news of the abduction of our learned colleague, J. D. Ubandoma Esq the immediate past Chairman of our branch.

"He was reportedly kidnapped last night at his house in Mayo- Dassa area of Jalingo.


"We also urge the security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure his immediate release," he said.

Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Misal also confirmed the incident, but promised to get back with more information regarding the incident and the efforts by the police in rescuing the victim.


A family source said the kidnappers were yet to get to the family regarding ransom.


Rev Fr Sunday Muke, the CAN chairman in the council area lamented that insecurity in the area had reached a stage where people were no longer sleeping in their homes for fear of being attacked or kidnapped.


“We are calling on the state and Federal Government to urgently address the wanton killings and kidnapping in Lau.

“For the past two years, there have been records of kidnappings and serial killings. Now, religious leaders, especially Christian leaders, have become targets.

“For instance, the CAN chairman of Garin Dogo zone, Rev. Mark Jack, was kidnapped and killed on January 26, 2019.

“The vice chairman of CAN in Lau, Rev Shawulu Ishaya, was attacked and shot in his house on March 20, by armed militia and he is currently receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Jalingo.”

Muke called on security operatives to carry out intensive surveillance around Babagasa, Lushi, Gwaire and Abbare communities where a “killer squad of herdsmen have found a safe haven and are operating freely.”

On his part, Rev Jonah Shavah, said that the issue was not purely a religious issue. “The victims cut across religious divides. Of the 15 people taken hostage since the beginning of 2019, two are Muslims.

“Security agencies must root out the criminals to enable the people return to their homes as the farming seasons approaches,” he said.


However c‎hairman of the National Youth Council Of Nigeria Taraba State Chapter, Comrade UDI N. Adamu has condemned in its totality the spat of kidnapping in some parts of the state, describing the trend as barbaric and inhuman.

Recent,kidnap of the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Barrister Ubandoma and Alh. Yahaya Lau, former Treasurer Sub-Treasury, 3 brothers of Deputy Accountant General Chief Bauten Isa, were kidnapped in Nyita, Donga LGA. others kidnap cases recorded in Jalingo the state capital, Gassol,Bali,Takum and other Local Government Areas are all glaring incidents.

We urged Security operatives to be proactive in tracking the miscreants and bring them to book in other to serve as deterrent to others.

Youths and the general public are charge to report any criminal act to security operatives or designated authority for prompt action in their domicile.

The Council also charge the securities Aparatus to take up the issues of the Kidnapping serious in making sure they perpetrators were put to book.‎

No comments