Local residents of the Kuteb community in Takum Local Government Council of Taraba State are urging Dr Agbu Kafes, the state governor, to focus on facilitating the safe return of their displaced members to their lands currently occupied by bandits.
Represented by the Kuteb Peace Movement (KPM), the group released a press statement on Sunday in Jalingo, the state capital, citing several areas overtaken by bandits such as Fawen, Bassang, Kpashi, Muji 1 and 2, Tati, Kpashimbe, and Gamgum.
In response to tensions surrounding the Ukwe Takum stool, the group emphasized the importance of installing a First Class traditional ruler for Takum to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Expressing concerns about the speculated rotation of the stool among ethnic groups and the proposed change of title from “Ukwe Takum” to “Chief of Takum,” the group highlighted the potential risks to peaceful co-existence.
The coordinator, Musa Danladi Rimande, urged for a peaceful resolution through dialogue rather than violence, advocating for the safe return of Kuteb people to their ancestral lands.
Emphasizing their stance against another conflict, the group called for peaceful negotiations among various ethnic groups vying for the vacant traditional stool.
They also stressed the importance of preserving Kuteb cultural heritage, acknowledging Kuteb festivals and rituals within legal frameworks, and ensuring fair representation of Kuteb people in political and public roles without fear of intimidation or discrimination.
The Kuteb community echoed the necessity of collaborative efforts to address historic tensions and promote the well-being of all residents in Takum Council and across the state.