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Abducted Taraba monarch, other hostages beg government to make peace with bandits (Video)
An abducted traditional ruler in Taraba State, Sarkin Kwaji, among 23 hostages have made a heartfelt appeal to the Nigerian government to sit and dialogue with bandits and secure their freedom from captivity.
Some weeks back, gunmen attacked a community in Taraba State and kidnapped the Sarkin Kwaji and 22 other persons.
Residents revealed that two police officers – a Sergeant attached to the monarch and an Inspector, who was on casual leave, were also kidnapped during the attack.
A video obtained by Neptune Prime showed the hostages, visibly distressed and blindfolded, surrounded by masked individuals with deadly weapons.
Speaking in the video, the Sarkin Gwaji, Umaru Nyala said the terrorists were not inherently wicked but had been driven to violence due to perceived injustices and have claimed to be victims of discrimination, persecution, who were forced to migrate to another country, hence their violent response.
READ ALSO: Terrorists’ Days Numbered: Military operations rescue 47 hostages, seize arsenal
The Sarkin Kwaji pleaded with the government to acknowledge their plight and engage in dialogue to restore peace.
In his own words, “They are not wicked people; they are normal like you. They have been pushed to the wall. Injustice has been meted on them.
“They have been segregated, chased, killed, and they ran to another country. Originally, they are from Taraba. Why were they being treated like animals? They are angry, and if the government wants peace, they should call for a sitting, listen to their demands, and make peace with them.”
Sarkin Kwaji conveyed a grim ultimatum, mentioning that if the bandits’ demands weren’t addressed by evening, the hostages would face execution, with only corpses remaining.
Another captive, identified as Reverend Ayuba MK echoed Sarkin Kwaji’s sentiments, stressing that the bandits sought revenge for past wrongs but desired peace.
He emphasised that despite their current plight, the bandits treated them well during captivity while reiterating the call for government intervention, stating, “We were treated nicely. They didn’t wicked us; they are all good to us. But from this morning till dawn, that is the only time we have. The government should come and do something about it.”
The video presented a tense atmosphere with a mix of Islamic greetings, chants of “Allahu Akbar,” and the backdrop of Tiwa Savage’s song “Who Is Your Guy.”
The hostages pleaded with anyone with faith to spread their message urgently, emphasizing the imminent threat to their lives and the critical need for government’s intervention for their survival.
Click on the link below to watch the video:
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