From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA) the umbrella body of Tiv people in Taraba State, Thursday, requested security agencies to arrest and prosecute killers of seven Tiv commuters who were traveling from Zaki Biam in Benue to Bali in Taraba.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr James Baka, President General of the TCSA and made available to newsmen in Jalingo.
The statement appealed to the government and security agencies to make available the corpses of the victims to be given befitting burials.
He condemned the gruesome killing of the travellers some of whom he identified as students of the Federal Polytechnic Bali.
“Pathetically, majority of the people that were killed in the bus were either students from Fed. Polytechnic Bali or family members of the Federal Civil Service residing in Bali who had nothing to do with Taraba issues.
“We therefore, condemn the killing of these innocent commuters and call on Taraba State Government and security agencies to deploy every available means to make available the corps of the already slain passengers who boarded the bus, so that they could be given befitting burials.
“We also call on Security agencies to ensure immediate arrest of all the suspects and launch an investigation into the issues in order to prosecute the culprits for the crimes committed.
“The State Government should expedite efforts to resettle displaced persons along the area in order to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the deserted places to perpetrate their criminal activities,” it said.
It would be recalled that an 18 seater bus with registration number AKP 237 BENUE, which took off from Zaki Biam to Maihula in Bali was attacked by the suspected Vigilante Group along Gankwe Mararaba road in Donga local government area of Taraba state.
