Helicopters were seen air-dropping insurgents in thick forest around the Wukari local government area in southern Taraba State, which has been witnessing violent attacks lately, the Senate heard yesterday.
This is the second time in two months that Senators would be told of such activities by gunmen operating in the north East of Nigeria.
On March 20, Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina State had also informed his colleagues that locals in the areas that were attacked by armed bandits had reportedly sighted helicopters air-dropping armed fighters in forests days before attacks that left over 100 people dead in the zone.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha representing Taraba south told the red chamber that communities around Wukari have reported suspicious movements of helicopters in the area.
Scores of people have been killed and many others displaced due to violence in Wukari and its environs in the last three months.
“I want to say that our attention has been drawn to a suspicious movements and activities around Dakar in Taraba state and it is believed also that a helicopter is dropping materials and personnel around there and we fear that this may be another Sambisa that is in the making in Taraba state,” Bwacha said.
He requested for the establishment of a military barrack around the flashpoint in Wukari to safeguard lives and property.
Bwacha also recalled that last December, Senator Alkali Jajere from Yobe state had informed them of reports about helicopters suspected to be supplying food and weapons to insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa forest in Borno state.
Ruling on the matter, Senate President David Mark said order 43 does not require any debate and promised to take up the matter with the authorities.
