Gunmen have killed six people, including the driver of a commercial car traveling from Takum Local Government Area to Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The attack occurred early Monday morning at Sai community, a border area that stretches from Benue State into Takum LGA of Taraba State.
John Ali, Chairman of the Takum council, confirmed the incident on Monday. According to him, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had been warned against using the route early in the morning due to its volatile nature.
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“The first vehicle that carried about five passengers left Takum in the early hours of Monday at about 6:00 am,” Ali explained.
“The vehicle, alongside its occupants, approached Sai, a community in Benue State where we usually have problems. The hoodlums emerged from the bush and opened fire on the moving vehicle, killing the six passengers including the driver. I have instructed the security agencies to carry the corpses, deposit them, and go after the hoodlums.”
The Takum-Wukari Express Road is the same spot where the traditional ruler of Chanchanji and his son were ambushed and killed by gunmen recently while returning from a funeral service in Takum town.
Ali noted that a security team had been established by the Governor shortly after that incident. The team was preparing to begin its patrols around 7:00 am, but the attack happened between 6:00 am and 6:30 am.
“We earlier had a security meeting with the NURTW and other unions where we warned against plying the road as early as possible in the morning because security agencies on patrol had not resumed duty,” Ali said.
“I do not know why they failed to inform their members or why this driver left early in the morning and became a victim.”
Ali stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are apprehended and will not go unpunished.
