The Acting General Officer Commander GOC, Division 3, of Nigerian Army, Jos, Brig-General Benjamin Ahanotu, has put the blames of the Taraba crisis on politicians.
The GOC also called on politicians in Taraba State to be neutral, fair and just over the current crisis on the Mambilla Plateau while he addressed Chairman of Sardauna Local Government, John Yep, in Gembu, Taraba State, on Saturday.
The Mambilla violence between Fulani and Mambilla tribes has recorded at least 18 deaths, with many of them believed to be Fulani.
Although the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo who condemned the violence has deployed more security officials to restore peace in the area.
Meanwhile, Fulani residents of the area in a statement released over the weekend had accused Mr. Yep of sponsoring the violence against them.
Ahanotu claimed that from the briefs he got from the Brigade Commander of 23 Brigade, Yola, Bello Mohammed, prominent politicians from the area played vital roles that led to escalation of the situation.
According to Ahanotu, the carnage being perpetrated in the area would not have escalated if the politicians had acted justly in dealing with the situation. He however warned that soldiers deployed to the area should not be dragged into politics as they were only there to restore peace.
Bello Mohammed Inside Sources gathered that officials of the local government were frustrating efforts of the Army to reach the hinterland where most of the havoc was being perpetrated. He also said in spite of the on-going crisis, no prominent politician had come over to the area to help calm the situation.
Mohammed on his part said “No member of the national or state assembly has come home, despite the fact that they would have assisted in controlling their people,”
