Communities Say Only Bandits Were Killed In Bali

·         List Names Of Victims Kidnapped By Gang

 

Controversy has continued to trail the killing of 12 people in Zudai village, near Dogon-Ruwa community in the Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State last Sunday as members of various communities in Bali and Gassol Local Government area are insisting that  those killed  were bandits terrorizing the area, saying local vigilantes in the area should be commended for bravery in ending their terror reign.

 

The Caretaker Chairman of Bali Local Government, Micah Dakka, confirmed that vigilante group members operating in the area killed 12 bandits.

 

Dakka had on Monday told journalists in an interview that vigilante members trailed the bandits from the neighbouring Gassol Local Government Area and overpowered them around Dogoruwa village of Bali Local Government, killing 12 of them while others fled.

 

Mallam Hansi from Jatau, Evang. Jocob Ali from Bodel of Bali L.G and Wakili Sani Anema from Anema of Gassol Local Government told our reporter that the operation leading to the killing of the 12 alleged bandits  was a coordinated effort to free the communities from the grip of bandits terrorizing the area.

 

They said some kidnapped victims were also rescued at the scene urging government to probe into activities of those killed in the incident.

 

"Those killed were bandits terrorizing our Communities and the local Vigilantes Group chased them away from their camp in Kwangiri and they relocated to another hidden area near Pankri in Bali."

 

Members of the communities accused the gang of being responsible for the kidnapping of Amos Yonana (Hore) in Bodel on 13 August 2022; Alh Dauda Bappa Isa   in Garwa on 25 July 2022; Chief Imam of Dadin Kowa Malam Manu who was kidnapped in Dadin kowa on 13 August 2022.

 

Also listed among victims of the gang are the village head of Dadin kowa was kidnapped in Dadin kowa Gassol L.G on 9^th August 2022; Abdul'aziz Yunusa who was kidnapped in BabaJuli of Bali L.G on 4/th of July 2022; Baban Nenne was also kidnapped in Zudai on 15^th May 2022

They also claimed Kara Kuka Village in  Gassol Local Governmnet area attacked by the gang and about 12 people were killed including Saedu Bala, Habibu Chul, Ila Garin Gidado.   Yakubu Adamu among others

 

Wondering why the vigilante group are wrongly accused of killing innocent people, Alh Hussaini Dali from Dali Village said since the incident members of the Communities now sleep with their two eyes closed but still fear attack from fleeing members of the gang.

 

"We are calling on the government and security agencies to launch a details probe into the activities of these people to unravel the truth. Those claiming these people are not bandits or kidnappers should provide evidences, some victims were rescued, our people are happy and government should provide more securities for our communities

 

"These development shows that Government should embrace community policing system because it will help flush out banditry in the state," Dali said.

However Chairman Tabbital Pulaku Taraba State Chapter, Bello Ahmed Belal  disagreed that those killed where bandits, saying a targeted tribe was victims of the attack.

"The vigilante group went after our people in the name of killing bandits, there are bad people in all tribes, so its wrong to go to homes and kill some people because their tribal persons are involved in banditry, they should have identify the kidnappers and not just go after anybody who's relate to them. They should have identify the bandits to the leaders of the tribe in the area, its wrong killing people because government did not asked them to kill anyone."