Published March 11, 2025
Eleojo Samuel Adaji Jalingo
The people of Bariki Lissa in Yukuben Community, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, have accused the Taraba Police Command of extortion and harassment, urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to launch an immediate investigation into the matter.
The controversy began on December 12, 2024, when a group from the neighboring village of Gatati, allegedly acting on the orders of Emmanuel Jalo Zobdi, attacked Bariki Lissa over a chieftaincy and territorial dispute.
The attackers, armed with dangerous weapons, injured several people, including a deaf man, Ikpeasan Abaga, and destroyed properties in the village.
The incident was reported to the Takum Divisional Police Headquarters, which arrested several suspects while others fled across the border to neighboring Cameroon.
The arrested individuals included Gambo Karma, Senior Gambo, Idi Yakubu, Alexander Moses, Habila Emmanuel, and Bitrus Kaigama.
Other suspects, including Kayang Maigida, Sunday Danladi, Agyasa Alhassan, and Moses Sokoto Kunga, remain at large.
Following the arrests, a peace settlement was brokered with the involvement of community leaders, including the Chief of Takum, Barr. Sopiya Ahmadu Gboshi, the state Assembly member for Takum II, John Lamba, Takum Local Council Chairman, John Ali Danjuma, and the Ward Councilor of Shibong, Japheth Sanda Zaure. Under the agreement, the attackers were to pay N1.2 million to cover medical costs and compensation for the damaged property.
However, days after the victims received the funds, the perpetrators filed a complaint at the Taraba Police Command Headquarters in Jalingo, claiming they were forced to pay the compensation and demanding a refund.
In an unexpected turn, officers from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) bypassed the Takum Police Division, raided Bariki Lissa, and arrested the victims, including the deaf man, other injured individuals, and the local councillor, Japheth Sanda Zaure.
The CID officers allegedly demanded the refund of the N1.2 million, claiming the payment had been coerced.
They also extorted N300,000 in bail money from the victims, who were later released on bail. The bail payment was made through a combination of cash and bank transfers to one ASP Mure Audu Eric, a police officer involved in the incident.
The victims have now called on IGP Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the actions of the Taraba State Police Command, with concerns that the Takum Division and the state police force are operating with double standards.
DSP Usman Abdullahi, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the ongoing investigation into the incident.
As the victims continue to seek justice, the community remains hopeful that the IGP will take action against the alleged misconduct by the police.
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