By Ibrahim Abdul
In a twist of events, Taraba state police command has vowed to enforce the dictates of the anti-grazing law in the state, threatening that , ‘’ any violator will face the wrath of the law.’’
It could be recalled, the law enacted last year-2017, has kick-off last week amidst protests by Fulani herdsmen groups within and outside the state.
While speaking on the backdrop of alleged extortion and maltreatment of herdsmen by police on herdsmen in some areas following the commencement of the law, the police spokesman in the state David Misal on Tuesday said that, “For us, we will follow the law strictly and enforce its provisions where necessary.”
‘’ We are law enforcement personnel ,so we must ensure that any law enacted either by the Federal or state even bye laws by local authorities are strictly obey, and whoever goes contrary will be arrested and prosecuted as enshrined in the law.
On how well the police have prepared, the Misal an assistant superintendent of police asked: “Has there been any situation where the police were not ready to enforce the laws?
‘’ So , we , enjoined all residents of the state to obey the law.’’
Reacting on the controversy that trailed a letter written by the state Attorney General, Yusufu Akirinkwen, to the state’s Commissioner of Police, asking the police to release Mambilla militias that were earlier arrested over killings in Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area last year, the police spokesman said ,’’ it was a suggestive letter.’’
‘’ Though, it was a suggestion but the letter came late because all of them ( the suspects) were charged to court before the Attorney-General wrote to the state police command to release them. I believe some were released by the court since.’’
The affected Fulani community leaders , through the state chapter of Miyyetti Allah, had earlier alleged that the state government and police colluded to shield the perpetrators of the killings from facing justice.
The community said the release of the suspects by the police was a clear indication that the massacre was sanctioned by the state.
Ahmadu Bello chairman Miyetti Allah in Sardauna local branch regrets that while many killed and arrests made, the state government will turn to ask for the release of suspected militias.
‘’ As we are talking there were pockets of silent killings; up to today the Mambilla militia is still carrying out isolated cases of cattle rustling, killing of our cows, harvesting our crops, cutting and burning down our eucalyptus tree forests while our people cannot travel through Mambilla communities without being attacked and molested.
‘’ We wish to place on record that very recently the militia laid a siege on Dorofi, some suspects were arrested and released without bringing them to book. Also in Maisamari an unauthorized cultural festival was forced on non Mambilla residents by the notorious militia. This led to the death of three persons and six others injured.
‘’A Shepherd of Ardo Mbamnga and another one in Leme were murdered by suspected Mambilla militia. The offence of one of them was for testifying before a court of law against a Mambilla suspect.
‘’As these were going on unabated, the suspects, some of whom were earlier arrested but later set free on the orders of the State Government, are busy boasting on the streets that they can kill anybody and go scot free,’’ said he.
Also corroborating another leader AbdulMumini Umar denied any ‘’peace deal’ reached, as according to him ,’’ we strongly view this false insinuations as another sponsored attempt by our aggressors to escape arrest with the intention to twist the arm of justice and evade prosecution.
‘’So as to deny the families of those who were murdered, victims whose houses were burnt down, livestock farmers whose cows were killed and thousands of IDPs and Refugees that were still languishing in neighbourinring Cameroun Republic of justice,’’ he explains.
