The Southern Taraba Youth Coalition for Peace (STYCOP Peace Project) has condemned the December 3 attacks in Takum Local Government Area and called for urgent intervention from security agencies and political leaders to halt rising insecurity in the region.
In a statement signed by its President, Amb. Rikwense Muri, the group said Peeki village in Chanchanji Council Ward came under attack on Dec. 3 when armed assailants invaded the community and set homes and property ablaze. No lives were lost, the group noted, adding that two abducted women managed to escape and flee to Amadu.
In a separate incident on the same day, the statement reported that attackers assaulted Sir Eric Gaza in Gaza village near Peva while he was harvesting yams with his daughter. The daughter escaped unharmed, while Sir Gaza sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The group described the incidents as part of a recurring pattern of attacks affecting communities across Takum LGA, adding that several distress calls from residents had not received adequate response, leaving villages vulnerable.
“It is deeply concerning that no substantive public statements, condemnations, or demands for accountability have been issued by our elected representatives at both the state and national levels,” the statement said. “Silence in the face of recurring violence erodes public trust and leaves our communities feeling abandoned.”
STYCOP called for immediate and sustained deployment of security operatives to communities in Chanchanji and the Peva axis; a transparent investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators; and stronger public engagement from political leaders.
The group also urged government authorities to provide relief and rebuilding support for displaced and affected residents, particularly those in Peeki.
Amb. Muri appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Agbu Kefas, lawmakers, police authorities, and military commanders in the area, urging them to act decisively to restore confidence in the security architecture of Southern Taraba.
“Our people deserve safety, dignity, and the assurance that government institutions are actively working to protect them,” the statement added.
