Since Saturday night till now, anxiety has engulfed residents of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State following fresh alarm on the landing of a helicopter suspected to be loaded with arms and ammunition in a village called Jibu, located along River Benue, near Ibi, Taraba State.
Details given by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bala Dan-Abu, showed that the arms and ammunition were allegedly meant for a militia group that might have been planning an attack on Taraba villages.
According to him, “This system of arms delivery was used prior to the tragic attacks in Agatu communities in Benue State last year, which led to the killings there.
“When it was reported, nothing was done to trace and arrest the owners of the helicopter.
“That strategy works for them in Agatu and they are using it again today.
“This may be another planned militia attacks on the people of Taraba in the offing,” Dan-Abu said.
Even as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP. David Misal, dismissed the information as a mere rumour and cautioned against spreading “fake information” on the social media, member representing Wukari II Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Josiah Aji, said he was also alerted to the development.
Aji said he has since contacted the chairman of Wukari LGA, Hon. Daniel Adi, to be on the alert, while urging the security agencies to launch investigation into the allegation.
Already, the Chairman of Wukari LGA, Hon. Daniel Adi, said he was still gathering intelligence on the issue and that he has sent his surveillance team to the area and will get back to our correspondent with detailed report.
Calls made to residents in Wukari area on Sunday showed landing of a flying object in a remote area which took off about 45 minutes after landing.
