Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Darius Ishaku, has said there is a plan to attack the state in the next 10 days.
The governor also said the information had been passed to security agencies, adding that he was not aware that any action had been taken.
Ishaku spoke in Jalingo on Thursday when he received members of National Working Committee of Peoples Democratic Party who paid him a sympathy visit on the death of a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi.
The governor told the PDP delegation, led by National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, that peace had become a scarce commodity in the state.
He said, “When I assumed office, I asked my people to give me peace and that I would give development in return. Peace is elusive in Taraba, but we have development. Here I am as a governor with a crown, but without a sword.
“You call police and security agencies for help, they will tell you they need to clear from Abuja before acting. Before you know it, you have lost 100 people.
“When you call for help, the help takes ages to come. We need to restructure the security architecture of this country. You take one step forward as the governor, the almighty Federal Government takes you back 10 miles.
“The police we have can’t help themselves. In 10 days’ time, we will be attacked.
Helicopters dropped arms here at night for hoodlums.
“We will talk because if the Federal Government cannot help us, let those who can help us come to our aid.
“Our farmers cannot travel at night with their goods to neighbouring states to sell again. God gave us good land, but we lack common sense.
“I’m talking now since writing has not produced the desired results. Some of these things are not meant to be said, but we will henceforth be talking.”
The governor said, “We buried 63 people at Lau, the same day that Benue State buried 73 of its people. We are in trouble in this country.
“If our voices are not heard in Abuja, they can be heard in Kano, Niger Republic, United States of America and other places.”
Earlier, Secondus said that he and members of his team were in the state to condole with the people on the death of the lawmaker.
He blamed the Federal Government for the insecurity in the country, saying “the first duty of any government is to provide security for its citizens.”
Secondus appealed to members of the National Assembly to investigate those behind the alleged dropping of arms and expose the perpetrators.
He called on the Federal Government to review the country’s security architecture to curb the senseless killings in the country.
Defence Headquarters, Abuja, which did not say if it received any information from the governor, said the step by Ishaku would cause proactive measures to be put in place.
Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim, said, “Informing the defence and the security agencies would enable proactive measures to be put in place.
“The military, being the last line of defence, would require the Commander-in-Chief’s directives to act. For the records, the procedure is for His Excellency to bring such information to the immediate attention of Mr. President and the military would move in if the crisis overwhelms the police.”
But a top source at Ministry of Defence said he was not aware of such information from the governor.
“There is no such information in the ministry. The governor should help with when such letter was written and to who.”
Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mr David Akinremi, denied receiving any information from the governor.
He said, “As far as I am concerned, I have not received any letter from the governor. I am not aware that the governor informed us about any impending attack.”
Punch
