Nigerian troops deployed in Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA on Saturday arrested suspected members of militia at Takum, Taraba State.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that a former minister of defense, Theophillus Danjuma, on Saturday called on the people of Taraba State to rise and defend themselves against “ethnic cleansing”.
Mr Danjuma, a native of Takum, gave this warning on Saturday at the maiden Convocation ceremony of Taraba state university in Jalingo Taraba state capital.
“You must rise to protect yourselves from these people, if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die. This ethnic creasing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria,” Mr Danjuma said.
But a statement by the spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Texas Chukwu, on Sunday, one of the suspects, Rapheal Yakwa, was arrested while taking unauthorized and suspicious photographs in a military event.
“During the preliminary investigation it was revealed that he was among some youths being sponsored by certain individuals of Taraba State to cause uprisings in the area.
“He has also confessed to have participated in most nefarious activities of a group, this was further proven by series of media content discovered on his mobile phone.
“His confession has led to the arrest of another suspect, Mr Irambariye Mamman who is said to be the youth leader as well as the leader of the group.
“Also apprehended is one Mr Micah Audu who also confessed to be member of the gang,” Mr Chukwu added.
