Bandits slay 18 peoeple
In a tragic turn of events, 18 hunters have been killed in separate attacks by bandits in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. The first incident occurred near Maihula town, where 15 hunters were slain during a confrontation with bandits numbering over 200. The bandits, armed with superior weaponry, overwhelmed the hunters, leading to the loss of 14 lives at the scene and one more en route to Jalingo Hospital.
A local source, Musa Umar, recounted the harrowing details of the attack, stating that the bandits initially targeted Bali town, the headquarters of Bali Local Government, and surrounding villages. However, they were met with fierce resistance from the hunters, who bravely defended their community.
Adamu Dantala, the Taraba State Chairman of the Hunters Association, confirmed the loss of 15 hunters in the Maihula attack. He also reported the ambush of three more hunters near Dakka town, bringing the total death toll to 18.
Dantala expressed the urgent need for government and community support to equip the hunters adequately.
“We need government and community support to fully armed us the hunters because we are not given any funds to support families of those killed or treat those injured” he said.
In a separate incident, the Kur Bali Chiefdom, led by Alhaji Mahamud Abubakar, was also invaded by bandits. The hunters valiantly repelled the attackers’ attempt to invade Bali town, but at a heavy cost of 15 lives.
Despite repeated attempts to reach the police spokesman, SP Usman Abdullah, for comment, he remained unresponsive to calls and SMS messages.
Source: Daily Trust
