The Mbayongu community in Kaamem, the Manya area council of Takum Lga, Taraba, has condemned the arrest of its district chief, Zaki Terkura Kugba, by agents of the Nigerian army led by the sergeant. Yohana Emmanuel by Ada Barracks, Takum.
The residents told Nigerian Tribune that the soldiers assaulted the community on Saturday morning, assaulting the locals and entering houses before taking the traditional ruler, their motorcycle and a tricycle.
A youth leader, James Tyona, said the monarch was attending a meeting with community leaders in a nearby village when he was informed of the presence of the soldiers.
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“They invaded our community, defeated people indiscriminately and took Zaki Terkura Kugba. When attacking him, they began to hit him before the sergeant. Emmanuel intervened,” Tyona claimed.
According to him, the soldiers said they were acting intelligence that an alleged terrorist known as JC was in the area to raise “taxes.”
He, however, insisted that no criminal or incriminating evidence were found.
Tyona described the monarch as a firm defender of security efforts, noting that criminals had repeatedly threatened to frustrate their operations.
“It is shocking that the army will arrest the same man who has been using his personal resources to support security agencies. The criminals already celebrate their arrest and have sent us new threats that demand ₦ 20 million in taxes before October 3,” he said.
The community appealed to the head of the Army personnel, the commander of 6 Brigade, Jalingo and the governor of the state of Taraba, Agbu Kefas, to intervene and ensure the release of Kugba, warning that the area risked to fall under the control of the bandits.
When he contacted, the sergeant. Yohana Emmanuel confirmed the operation, but refused to explain why the monarch was arrested. The efforts to get to Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, interim deputy director, Army Public Relations, 6 Jalingo Brigade, were not successful as the calls and messages were unanswered.
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