Clergy forum seeks justice for slain Taraba pastor, nine others

The Clergy of Tiv Extraction Forum in Bali and Gashaka Local Government Areas of Taraba State has called for the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Pastor Jacob Abah, his wife, son, and seven others during a bus attack in Donga Local Government Area of the state last week.

Addressing a press conference in Jalingo on Saturday, the leader of the forum, Nathaniel Saawua said, aside from those who were killed, those who sustained injuries in the attack have been left to foot their bills as no government official has either visited them in the hospital or contacted their families.

Saawua lamented the continuous silence of the government over the issue.

He said, “It is with a heavy heart that we come forward to address you today on the developments that followed the recent gruesome and barbaric murder of Rev. Abah Jacob and his wife, Marian Abah alongside several other persons by Ichen Militia on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Mararaba in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State.

“Rev. Abah Jacob, until his murder, was a pastor with The African Church, Kyado Archdeaconry, posted to The African Church Adi Parish in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. But since the gruesome murder, it appears to us that nobody is bothered because no one family of the victims has been contacted by the authorities and no official visitation to the families by any government official from Bali or Donga local government Councils.

“It is most pathetic to know that those who sustained injuries but divinely escaped were admitted at the General Hospital Bali. One person has so far died in the hospital, and some of them have little or nothing to foot the bills of the treatments they are receiving. This is even as some have resigned to fate as they have nothing that will sustain their stay at the hospital

“While we draw the attention of the authorities’ concern to this pathetic and unfortunate situation, we want to call on spirited individuals who are touched by this incidence to come to the aid of these victims and the bereaved by providing succour to them to alleviate some of their physical and emotional pains.”

While commending the efforts of the police in Bali Division who assisted in the evacuation of the corpses of the victims who were ambushed and murdered between Gankwe and Mararaba in Donga Local Government for burial, the forum appealed for a full investigation into the murder of the commuters.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Zainab Jalingo, over the allegation of government neglect of the victims, failed as her line was not reachable at the time of filing this report.

The state governor, Agbu Kefas, in the wake of the attack last week through the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, condemned the attack and ordered a full investigation into the attack.