Jukun indigenes appeal to Jonathan, IGP over attacks

JALINGO—The Jukun Development Association, JDA, an umbrella body of Jukun indigenes in Taraba State, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to protect the people of the area from some land grabbers who were bent on wiping out the Jukuns.

In a statement by its President, Mr. Bako Benjamin, the Jukuns decried what they described as humiliation and nonchalant attitude of the state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar and the Chairman of Ibi Local Government Area, Alhaji Isiaka Adamu towards their plight.

Benjamin alleged that on January 16, 2013, a boy had a minor disagreement with another during a football match, an indigene of Jukun, Mr. Luka Musa, who was there was shot with an AK-47 rifle. He added that the incident ignited unprecedented killings and destruction of lives and property.

According to him, the intensity of such crises had never been witnessed in Jukunland, saying that ‘’this incident and several other attacks against our people happened within the few months of the absence of Governor Danabara Suntai.

He said: ‘’We the entire Jukun People are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police to save us from further embarrassment and loss of lives and property.

“We, however, reject any commission of enquiry that will be set up by the Acting Governor as we no longer trust his  judgment. Rather the Federal Government should set up a high powered commission of enquiry with equal number of representatives of Christians, Muslims and Animists to address the sudden appearance of religious tension in Jukun land and Taraba State in general.’’