Miyetti Allah vigilantees arrest 10 kidnappers in Taraba
Story from Ahmed USMAN, Jalingo
In less than one month, the vigilante group of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breaders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Taraba State Chapter has arrested 43 suspected kidnappers terrorising Jalingo, the Taraba State capital and it environs.
The latest was the arrest of 10 suspected kidnappers who were presented to the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida, who later handed them to police in Jalingo. Seven of them were arrested in Tau, Pomi and Jiru villages of Ardo Kola local government area, while the remaining three were arrested in Kwando and Garin Baka villages of Jalingo local government.
It was learned that those arrested are the ones terrorising Ardo Kola local government, Jalingo and Yorro local government area.
Speaking with Neptune Prime correspondent in Jalingo, the national vice chairman of Miyetti Allah, North-East, Alhaji Mafindi Umar Damburam, who presented the suspected kidnappers to the Emir, explained that since last year when the Emir directed Fulani leaders to fish out criminals among them, no fewer than 100 suspected kidnappers were arrested.
He further explained that among those arrested recently were suspected killers of a Jalingo based businessman Alhaji Gidado Hassan in March this year.
The vice chairman saluted the courage of Emir of Muri Alhaji Abbas Tafida for singlehandedly funding the activities of Fulani vigilante group in the fight against kidnappers.
“Wherever we made arrests, the Emir pays for the work. He pays for transportation and food that’s why we said he should know what we are doing. When the ten were arrested we brought them before him before they were handed over to the security forces.”
Alhaji Mafindi Umar Damburam expressed concern over what he called the lackadaisical attitude of Taraba State government towards assisting vigilante group of Miyetti Allah in the fight against kidnappers in the state.
“Surprisingly, the Taraba State government has never provided a penny for the people involved in this operation. More than 100 people have been arrested and more than 30 firearms were confiscated.
“I am amazed that we have people who can help this work but they do not. The government is also doing nothing to support. Only the Emir of Muri does everything. When we presented him with the 10 arrested suspected kidnappers, he used N400,000 from his pocket and gave it to the vigilantes.”
The Fulani leader also commended Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Shokoya, for his support and cooperation to the Fulani vigilantes in the state by providing them with a vehicle.
When contacted, Mr Iliya Bekyu Akweh, Chief Press Secretary to the Taraba State Governor, said he is not in a position to comment on the issue and directed our correspondent to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters.
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