A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Abubakar Tanko, has condemned the persistent killing of students and other vulnerable residents, describing the violence as senseless, tragic, and unacceptable in any civil society.
Tanko expressed deep anguish over what he called the repeated targeting of innocent students, stressing that women and children have continued to bear the brunt of the attacks, a situation he said has left entire families and communities traumatised.
The lawmaker, who represents Takum 1 Constituency, raised the alarm during a plenary session of the Assembly, highlighting killings allegedly carried out by herdsmen in Chanchanji ward of Takum Local Government Area, and stating that the victims were largely Tiv farmers, including students from the Mbayongo and Majir communities.
Dressed in black attire during the session on Monday, Tanko explained that his appearance was deliberate. “I am in mourning and standing in solidarity with my people who are being killed almost daily,” he said. “It is painful to see communities wiped out and families destroyed without any justification.”
According to him, more than 24 communities have been displaced in recent times, with numerous lives lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Tanko noted that while efforts are ongoing to address the root causes of the crisis through local engagement, immediate security concerns remain critical.
“There are both remote and immediate causes to this crisis,” he said. “Dialogue is being pursued to find lasting peace, but security agencies must ensure that these killings and destruction stop completely. No one should take another person’s life over land, property, or even cattle.”
