Yusuf Bello|One person was reported killed and many others injured by unknown gunmen following an attack on travellers in Chedia, between Bantaje and Mahanga in Wukari LGA of Taraba state.
Other travelers were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination with all passengers and the driver’s phone carted away.
According to the caretaker committee chairman of Wukari local government, Daniel Grace, the attack occurred at about 7:00 PM on Saturday.
Confirming the attack, one of the drivers of the attacked vehicle, Yunana Baba, said he saw two vehicles ( 18 sitter Toyota buses, hummer one) packed by the roadside, and stopped to enquire from them what the problem was, but was confronted gun-wielding masked men in military camouflage and ordered to pack.
Four of his passengers were eventually kidnapped.
He said, ”I know that spot to be an army checkpoint, so, when I was approaching, I saw two buses exactly as mine, packed.”
” All of a sudden a masked individual in military camouflage came towards me, asked me to pack or else he will shoot. ”
” I obeyed, packed, and was asked to lie on the ground just like my passengers and they started asking for our phones, money and other valuables ”
” A military personnel was in my vehicle, they searched the luggage I was carrying and found his uniform, asked about the owner, but I told them that it was a waybill given to me to be taken to Jalingo the Taraba state capital. ”
” Shortly after, they used their flashlights on us and picked four of my passengers on motorbikes to an unknown destination ”
” They also picked six others from the other two buses ”
” I’m shattered and wondering why they could do so despite collecting our phones and money ”
” We had to drive down to the Owoniyi main motor park here in Jalingo to rest ”
According to him, the incident couldn’t be reported to the nearest police outpost at Chedia as there was no officer on seat to table their complaints when they got to the station.
The police public relations officer in Taraba, David Misal hs since confirmed the incident.
Leave a Reply