Kuteb Elders Counter Benjamin Bako, Accuse Him of Inciting Violence in Southern Taraba

The Kuteb Elders Forum has vehemently condemned recent statements made by President of the JukunDevelopment Association of Nigeria JDAN, Chief Benjamin Bako, accusing him of inciting violence in Southern Taraba. 

In a strongly worded statement, the Forum expressed shock and disappointment over Bako's social media post titled "Matter of Urgent National Importance," which they claim is filled with baseless accusations against the Kuteb people.

Ande Fili Ande, spokesperson for the Kuteb Elders Forum, described Bako's post as a deliberate attempt to vilify the Kutebcommunity. The Forum highlighted the numerous attacks and killings suffered by the Kuteb people in recent years, questioning Bako's silence on these atrocities while consistently blaming the community for the ongoing violence.

The Elders specifically cited the recent abduction and murder of Mr. Godwin, a Kuteb man, as evidence of the insecurity in the region. They challenged Bako to explain why he has consistently ignored the role of other ethnic groups in the conflict.

The Kuteb Elders Forum has called on Governor Agbu to rein in his newly appointed aide, warning that Bako's actions pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Southern Taraba. They have also urged security agencies to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action. Read the full statement on page below

MATTER OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE: KUTEB ETHNIC GROUP REBUT BAKO BENJAMIN AND CONDOLE WITH THE FAMILIES OF DECEASED VICTIMS IN SOUTHERN TARABA

 

It is with great shock that we read a piece of article that emanated from one Benjamin Bako titled MATTER OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE that was published on his facebook page, & other media outlets.

 

We are not surprised that such article came from a personality not other than Benjamin Bako because baseless insinuations, instigations and incitements have become his identity. While Bako Benjamin oughts to be a respected statesman especially now that he is an appointee of Gov. Kefas Agbu and by whose status, as adviser of the governor, should know better, act better and write with decorum on social media on matters of security, rule of law and fundamental human rights, he threw caution to the wind. It is also prudent to assume that Mr Bakoknows clearly that he who asserts must prove. It is on the ground of him throwing caution to the wind with weighty allegations that we chose to reply him.

 

It is apparent that Mr Bako premeditated his piece of writing against Kuteb tribe of Southern Taraba from venom brewed in his mind as accusations of this magnitude are not new from him. Bako's whims and caprices and his antics are not new to us as it is glaring from his previous writings and from his antecedents that he is anti-peace, anti-progress and anti-rule of law. We honestly wonder how a man of his standing will spew spurious inflammatory statements against Kuteb tribe.

 

May we pose few questions to Mr Bako. Mr Bako are you just getting to know that Southern Taraba is plagued with insecurity of unimaginable magnitude for years now? Are you not aware that almost on daily basis kuteb men and women are killed along Takum-Ussa road, in farms in Takum, Ussa and Yangtu and on the other roads leading to Takum and Ussa? Why have you not ever written any article condemning the killing of over 2000 kuteb sons and daughters in various communities of Takum, Ussaand Yangtu in the last 2-3 years? Why haven't you blamed any ethnic group in Takum over the sacking and destruction of over 80 villages in Takum, Ussaand Yangtu in the last 2-3 years? Mr. Bako, why haven't you, as one of the closest associates of the governor of Taraba state, brought to mainstream media daily killings that occur along Takum-Ussaroad, the most recent of which is the abduction and murder of one Mr Godwin just a week ago when he left his family in Lissam on his way to Takum but never came back alive. His lifeless body was found in the bush by the road side in Takum segment of the road. The community is still mourning.

 

While we sympathise with the family of the Gar Chanchanji and condemn in totality the death of the monarch and kuteb sons and daughters who have lost their lives in this gruesome manner, we wish to ask Mr Bako whether this is the first time innocent souls are killed in roads leading to Takum? Why have you not blamed your kinsmen, Chamba, whenever a kutebman is killed but find joy in dragging the name of Kuteb in the mud at all times, even when we have remained calm in the face of injustice and heinous provocations? Is it a tactics to vilify the victims (Kuteb) in this case by beating them and stopping them from crying out while turning around to blame their ordeal on them? Do you think painting Kuteb bad in the eye of the world will right the wrongs meted on them by you and your co-travelers of merchant of tribal bigotry and injustice?

 

We have no time to respond to the allegation of attempt to frustrate the development strides of TY Danjuma in Sothern Taraba. Your allegations in this regard are childish and embellish as Kuteb are peace-loving and have developed Takum more than any person had and are still craving for more development in Takum evident by the kuteb land sold to TY for his proposed School and the water tank we allowed on the hill of Kuchicheb festival ground, amongst others.

 

We wish to bring to the notice of the governor and all security chiefs that having Mr Bako as adviser to the governor is like dining with the devil or sitting on a keg of gunpowder as his advice will mislead the Governor, who is the chief security officer of the state. Mr Bako is a threat to peaceful co-existence of the tribes in Southern Taraba.

 

We sincerely urge Mr Bako Benjamin to write with civility, desist from inciting one tribe against the others, apologise to the baselessly accused tribes and allow the security to fish out the perpetrators and restore absolute security to Southern Taraba.

 

Ande Fili Ande

Abuja

KUTEB ELDERS FORUM.