Taraba Governor Responds to Genocide Allegations

Taraba Governor Responds to Genocide Allegations

The governor of Taraba State, Dairus Ishaku has denied ordering the killing of Fulanis in the ethnic crisis that has engulfed the Mambilla Plateau.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello, Ishaku described claims that he gave the order for the killing of Fulanis as untrue.

He said those spreading the rumours are uninformed.

The governor said critics accusing him of instigating the killings should produce a memo, tape or video recording of how the directive was issued.

“The accusers of Governor Ishaku are saying that he, at some point, actually gave orders by way of a broadcast or in some secret location that a certain ethnic group should be wiped out of Taraba,” the spokesperson said.

“They must have a tape recording of such instructions or directives. They probably have a memo by the governor where he clearly gave the plans for eliminations, stating timelines.

“They also probably know the armed militia he had planned with to carry out the dastardly act. Now, if they don’t have all of these, as I’m sure there is nothing like that, then, it is amazing how they could sit before journalists and tell a civilised world that a genocide has been planned against them.

“If they want to see genocides, ample examples are there but certainly not in our dear Taraba state. We don’t profile people in this very lovely state or plan the eliminations of same. Life is sacrosanct here,” the spokesman said.

This is coming as the Acting General officer Commnading (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Benjamin Ahanotu, called on politicians in the state to be neutral and fair over the crisis that has cost the lives of more than 18 people and hundreds of livestock. Most of the dead are believed to be Fulanis.

Mr. Ahanotu said from the briefs he got, prominent politicians from the area played roles that escalated the situation, PT reports.

He said the carnage being perpetrated in the area would not have escalated if the politicians had acted justly in dealing with the situation. He also added that no prominent politician had come over to the area to help in calming the situation.