Mr Salem Mela a know peace keeper in Chanchanji-Peva, Takum local government area of Taraba state was on the 21st August,2024 was arrested alongside his wife and kids.He was accused of Killing a Traditional ruler and his son in the area.
9News Nigeria gathered, Mr Salem Mela has been upright,a Young Man who against all odds stood that peace must be achieved in the area.Inuagurated officially by his kinsmen and saddled with the responsibility of brokering peace in the area.
Sadly on that faithful day,Mr Salem was sleeping peacefully in his house located at Mela Village, Chanchanji before the security personnels said to be from the Directorate state security service {DSS} stormed his house shooting sporadically,and destroying some houses,broke into his house arresting him and his pregnant wife with all their children,whisked away to an Unknown destination for two days before it was later discovered that they have been held hostage in Wukari,Taraba state.
Painfully,the pregnant wife was also beaten in the process and his children starved.In a similar vain,Mr Salem was also paraded and accused of Killing “Tor-Chanchanji with his son,what have spake a lot of reaction from Taraba state.
Speaking to members of the community,who pleaded anonymity,they said;Salem is not a criminal but a peace broker as confirmed by the secretary of the peace advocate committee,Chanchanji.They all express their anger and disappointment in the security personnels and call for his Imidiate release.
A Human right activist,Rikwense MURI who posted on his wall blasted the security agencies of been highly biased,he accused them of trying to annihilate the Tiv people of Taraba state.
Comr.Shom Fanen Akor from Benue State condemned the arrest saying; “On this the Security personnels have Erred”.
Other reactions came from Tiv youths Taraba and so many others,all calling for the Imidiate release of Mr Salem Mela.
As at the Time of filling this report the Army spokesman says nothing has been found on him,but he was only suspected but interrogations were still ongoing.
