By Lawal suliah
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jalingo Branch, has called on the Taraba State Government and security agencies to take urgent action to prevent further killings following a reported attack on residents of Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of the state.
The association made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Jalingo and signed by its chairman, Dr D. P. Saredau, after armed men reportedly attacked the community on Friday.
The NBA described the loss of innocent lives as unacceptable, noting that every citizen has a fundamental right to life and that government has a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of the people.
“No community should be left to live in fear, and no family should have to endure the devastating loss of loved ones to preventable violence,” Saredau said.
The association urged the state government to move beyond expressing concern and work with security agencies to implement urgent, coordinated and targeted measures to prevent further attacks.
It called for the immediate deployment of adequate security personnel and resources to vulnerable communities, as well as the identification and arrest of those responsible for the killings.
The NBA also demanded thorough investigations into the incident and the prosecution of the perpetrators in accordance with the law. It further called for sustained security operations to protect residents from additional attacks.
The association urged community leaders and residents to support lawful security operations by providing credible information that could assist investigations and efforts to prevent further violence.
It also warned against reprisals, collective blame and other actions that could heighten tensions and worsen the security situation in the affected communities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of fundamental rights, the NBA, Jalingo Branch, stressed that the right to life should not be subject to the decisions of armed non-state actors.
According to the association, the government has a constitutional obligation to protect citizens, adding that the success of its response should be measured by its ability to prevent further killings, secure vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
