Tag: Taraba

Ishaku Sets Up Commission Of Inquiry Into Clashes In Taraba

LG Funds: Ishaku Agrees With NFIU, To Reduce Political Appointees
A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.

 

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Monday constituted a commission of inquiry into the crisis between the Tiv and their neighbouring communities in the state.

He named Justice Kumai Bayang (rtd) as the chairman of the commission and Hamidu Audu as the secretary.

Its members are Justice Emmanuel Garba, Justice Ambrose Mammadi (rtd), Danjuma Rindam, Professor Rotgak Gofwen, and Professor Istifanus Zabadi.

The commission’s counsel, according to the governor, will be headed by Emeka Okoro.

He says the commission is to examine the remote and immediate causes of the crisis between the Tivs and people living in communities of Wukari, Takum, Donga, Ibi, Ussa, Gassol, and Bali Local Government Areas, among others from 1991 to date.

Also listed as part of its terms of reference is to identify the communities affected and the impact of damage caused, including lives and property lost.

Map of Taraba
A map of Taraba, a state in Nigeria’s North-East region.

 

Governor Ishaku also directed the commission to identify individuals or groups that might have instigated the crises and recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary.

He said the commission has three months to submit its report and asked it to assess the efficacy of the existing security arrangements in communities within the state and advise on improvement.

Another term of reference, according to the governor, is to examine and identify cases of banditry, kidnapping, and other vices related to or arising from within the border communities and their relationship with the crisis if any.

 

The commission is directed to also identify basic issues and causes of prolonged and perennial crisis between the warring communities and advise on the strategies for securing a lasting peace.

It is also to examine the roles state and local governments and other institutions and extant instruments or policy played to abate or facilitate the crises and recommend appropriate measures to be taken by the state government to forestall a future occurrence of the disturbances.

The commission is to examine other issues that may secure a lasting peace between the Tiv communities and their neighbours and recommend ways of effective reconciliation.

Gunmen Kidnap Former Lawmaker, Police Cleric In Taraba

Chief Imam’s Son, Two Others Kidnapped In Ogun Community
File photo

 

A former Senator representing Northern Taraba, Ambuno Zik-Sunday, has been kidnapped in Taraba State.

Also kidnapped was the cleric of the Taraba State Police Command’s Mosque, Mohammed Nuhu.

The former lawmaker was abducted in his hometown Bachama community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba yesterday while paying homage to his people.

Mr Nuhu on the other hand was kidnapped from his house in Jalingo in the early hours of Monday.

The police public relations officer David Misal made this disclosure at the police command office in Jalingo while presenting cache of arms recovered from suspected bandits, and parading some tricycle thieves.

READ ALSO: Cybercrime: Police Rescue U.S. Citizen Confined In Lagos Hotel For 16 Months

He noted that efforts are in top gear to rescue the lawmaker and the cleric.

Speaking on how the arms were recovered, the police image maker disclosed that security operatives acted based on intelligence reports.

According to him, when some bandits crossed from Karim Lamido LGA to Lau Council and sighted the police, they ran away into the bush and abandoned their motorcycles.

The police spokesman noted that while carrying out a search, 10 serviceable AK 47 rifles, 13 magazines, and 425 live ammunition were recovered.

The police say it believes that the arms recovered are purchased for the purpose of attacks, kidnappings as well as for distribution to criminal gangs across the state.

He says efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Also paraded on Monday were pharmacists whose contraband drugs were intercepted in a truck that arrived in Jalingo from Anambra state.

The police say most of the drugs intercepted contain codeine which has been banned by regulatory agencies in Nigeria.

All the paraded suspects confessed to have committed the crimes for which they were apprehended.

Mr Ahmed Azare, the Taraba State police commissioner, applauded the patriotic people of Taraba for supporting the police with useful information.

He urged members of the public to be more security conscious and promptly report to the police all criminal elements around their neighborhoods for necessary action.

Troops Kill Two Bandits, Injure Others In Taraba

Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke clear a suspected bandits’ hideout in Taraba State. Credit: Defence Headquarters

 

Troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke have killed two bandits and injured others in a makeshift camp at the outskirt of Arufu area of Taraba State.

The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche confirmed this via a statement issued on Saturday.

Enenche explained that the action followed “actionable Human Intelligence on the infiltration of armed herdsmen on 10 July 2020 at Chambe community in Logo LGA of Benue State where 2 villagers were killed.”

According to him, the troops from Tomatar and Gov/Afia swiftly were deployed to the scene but the bandits have fled the area.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct Two Persons, Shoot Driver In Ekiti

The defence spokesman, however, noted that the troops trailed the armed bandits to neighbouring Taraba, adding that upon sighting them, the bandits opened fire.

Luck ran out for the hoodlums as the soldiers “overwhelmed the criminals with high-intensity fire, killing two of them while others fled in disarray with gunshots wounds.”

Following the clearance operation, the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle as well as 10 rounds of 7.62mm Special from the criminals.

Reacting to the development, the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria commended “the gallant troops for their dexterity and encourages them to remain resolute in curtailing the activities of criminal elements in the North-Central Zone of the Country.”

Group Seeks Provision Of Incinerators To Curb Indiscriminate Dumping Of Refuse

Map of Taraba
A photo showing the map of Taraba State in Nigeria’s North-East region.

 

A Civil Society Organisation known as The Youth Progressive Association (TYPA) has called for the provision of incinerators at designated areas in Taraba State, to check indiscriminate dumping of refuse and ensuring a clean society.

The group also appealed to the state government, through the Taraba State Water Supply Agency (TAWASCO), to connect more consumers to public water for more revenue generation and utilisation.

It made the appeal on Thursday at a review meeting of the United States Agency International Development (USAID) for the Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (E-WASH) programme and media organisations in Jalingo, the state capital.

The leader of TYPA, Francisca Ikumen, stressed the need to cooperate with the state government to create more awareness, saying the battle against coronavirus (COVID-19) cannot be won independently.

He said the group has also carried out sanitation at the motor parks, markets, and streets to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on preventing the spread of COVID-19.

On his part, the General Manager of TAWASCO, Buba Siam, commended the group for creating awareness and making residents take responsibility for their safety and hygiene.

He also advised the people to make an attitudinal change in protecting government facilities such as the pipes laid.

Siam, however, lamented the cost of producing potable water for safe consumption and called for more collaborative efforts with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve water supply.

Before the present administration in Taraba, previous governments have always carried out sanitation exercises on the last Saturday of each month to ensure a clean society.

The meeting held a few months after the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USAID for the provision of potable water to more than 70 percent of the entire residents.

Ishaku Calls For Immediate Cessation Of Hostilities In Taraba

LG Funds: Ishaku Agrees With NFIU, To Reduce Political Appointees
A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.

 

 

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and bloodshed by warring groups in the state.

He promised that his administration would continue to give priority to the local government administration in view of its proximity and ability to engender development to the masses.

The governor made the remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of the 16 newly elected local government chairmen which held on Thursday in Takum LGA of the state.

“Government is more than ever before unwavering in finding amicable and acceptable resolution of all the grievances.

“Whatever demands that can never be achieved on the table of negotiations can never be gotten through swords,” he said.

He added, “It is in line with my desire to make local government councils more effective that I sent an executive bill to the State House of Assembly for the extension of their two years tenure to three years.

“My move is to enable the council chairmen to settle down properly in order to maximise the human and natural resources of their areas for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Governor Ishaku also appealed to residents in the rural areas not to overburden the chairmen.

According to him, the practice in which people come to make demands from chairmen on their personal or social needs should be discouraged as it has forced some council chairmen to abandon their local government areas and relocate to Jalingo.

While congratulating the newly elected chairmen, the governor urged them to live above board and be generous in victory.

He said, “You are not elected to be lords or mayor in your various domain, rather you are expected to serve those who freely elected you into office diligently and to the best of your ability.”

The governor informed the chairmen that they would be given targets for better performances and warned them of complacency in the discharge of their duties.

He stressed that his administration would not condone a situation where elected chairmen run away from their statutory responsibilities and stay outside their areas of jurisdiction.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Ibi LGA Chairman, Bala Bako, gave an assurance that the next three years of their reign would be on the consolidation of their achievements.

Taraba LG Polls: Ishaku To Inaugurate Newly Elected Chairman Thursday

LG Funds: Ishaku Agrees With NFIU, To Reduce Political Appointees
A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.

 

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State will on Thursday inaugurate the newly elected Local Government Council Chairmen.

This was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hassan Mijinyawa.

Mijinyawa noted that the ceremony will be performed at the Government Lodge in Takum area of the state at 12 noon.

He, however, warned that planned participants to “adhere to Corvid-19 protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks.”

Governor Ishaku’s spokesman explained that the “Protocol Department of Government House has been mandated to ensure observance of these protocols by those who will be attending the ceremony.”

This comes shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 16 chairmanship and 168 councillorship positions in the council’s polls.

PDP Wins All Chairmanship And Councillorship Positions In Taraba

The Peoples Democratic Party is one of the major political parties in Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party is one of the major political parties in Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won all 16 chairmanship and 168 councillorship positions in Taraba State.

The election which held on June 30 was earlier slated for February 10 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

17 political parties indicated interest to contest for the chairmanship and councillorship polls in the state, but the All Progressives Congress (APC) withdrew its interest citing lack of proper preparation to field its candidates.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Philip Duwe while briefing journalists in Jalingo, the state capital.

Duwe noted that only three (AA, APGA and PDP)  out of the 17 political parties indicated interest to contest for chairmanship positions in the state, while the remaining political parties also fielded candidates for the councillorship positions.

Reacting to allegations on why the APC withdrew its interest, Duwe said that any party is at liberty to do same with reasons best known to them, insisting that no party was maligned.

Giving details of the scores by parties in the chairmanship polls, the state electoral boss explained that all councillorship results were declared at the council wards level and would be brought forth to him for further declaration.

According to him, immediate issuance of Certificates of Return to democratically elected candidates has commenced without delay.

A breakdown of the results from one local government to the other shows that the PDP won by 80.7% in Ardo-Kola LG, 97.7% in Zing LG, 98.5% in Takum, 70 % in Wukari, 97% in Karim Lamido, 99% in Ussa, 95.2 per cent in Ibbi, and 99% in Gassol.

Others include Yorro LGA, 98%, with Jalingo LGA where an opposition party APGA contested and polled 2.6%, while the PDP scored 94%.

Meanwhile, in Lau LGA, the PDP won by 98.9%, in Sardauna LGA 97%, Kurmi LGA, 97.2%, Bali LGA 94.8, Donga LGA, 89.7%.

Gashaka LGA is the only council where the PDP won by 100%.

Speaking further, the electoral boss lamented that their budget for planning before, during and after the council polls was affected by COVID-19 in the state.

 

Troops Kill Four Militias, Arrest Suspected Kidnap Kingpin

A file photo of soldiers travelling in a truck.

 

 

The Nigerian Army has killed four suspected Tiv militias and injured others at Che Jukun village in Taraba State.

A statement by the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, on Tuesday said the suspects were killed during a gunfight with the troops.

According to Enenche, the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke operating under Operation Accord deployed at Gbise in Katsina-Ala LGA in Benue State and Sector 4 in Taraba State conducted a joint commando raid on Monday at Rafin Kada in Wukari LGA and Yojaa in Donga LGA of Taraba State.

He noted that the armed militia opened fire on sighting the troops who responded with superior firepower, thereby neutralising four of them while an unconfirmed number escaped with gunshot wounds.

The troops recovered from the suspects, two locally-made rifles, 55 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 117 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three AK47 magazines, and two motorcycles among other items.

In another development, Enenche said troops responded to a distress call from Zaki Biam on the activities of a suspected notorious kidnap kingpin, Kobo Ishor (aka ‘Lesser’), an associate of late Orjondu.

He noted that the suspect has been apprehended and undergoing interrogation and would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

“The High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops of Operation Whirl Stroke for their dexterity and professionalism and encourages them to remain resolute in curtailing the activities of criminals in the North-Central zone of the country,” the military spokesman added.

Taraba Govt Declares Three-Day Holiday For LG Polls

A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/ChannelsTV
A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/ChannelsTV.

 

 

The Taraba State government has declared Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as public holidays for the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hassan Mijinyawa, announced this in a statement on Monday.

He explained that the state governor, Darius Ishaku, gave the approval to enable civil servants in the state to travel to their respective wards and vote during the polls.

Governor Ishaku also urged people of the state to be orderly, law-abiding, and conduct themselves peacefully while discharging their civic responsibilities.

NDLEA Arrests 196 Suspected Drug Dealers In Taraba

File photo

 

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested 196 suspects for drug-related offences in Taraba State.

The state commander of the NDLEA, Suleiman Jadi, disclosed this on Friday at an event to mark this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

He explained that officials of the agency made the arrests between July 2019 and March 2020, noting that 39 of them have been convicted.

Jadi revealed that the suspects were arrested with about 883.76kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and psychotropic substances in different parts of the state.

He added that the command has successfully counselled 53 persons through its anti-drug abuse awareness and enlightenment campaigns and programmes.

According to the NDLEA state commander, Taraba is witnessing an increase in drug abuse since the advent of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state, which is negatively affecting their daily operations.

He decried that the situation was further compounded by a substandard rehabilitation centre of the agency for victims of drug abuse.

Jadi also listed some of the challenges faced by the command to include accommodation, logistics, and rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts.

Gov Ishaku Pleads With FG To Establish Testing Centre In Taraba

A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/ChannelsTV
A file photo of Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/ChannelsTV

 

The Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has appealed to the Federal Government to establish at least one testing centre for coronavirus in the state to sufficiently identify victims of the virus.

Though the state at the moment has no active case recorded since May 18, 2020, the governor insists that it is not comfortable to assume so.

He made this known when a delegation from the Code of Conduct Bureau COVID-19 Monitoring team, paid him a courtesy visit at the government house in Jalingo to intimate him on their mission of assessing how donated palliatives by VSF, NEDC, NEMA among several others are distributed to the vulnerable residents of the state.

The governor added that it would be preferable for the state to have a testing centre in order to have accurate data.

“The fact is, if I have a testing centre here, it will be faster and easier to test and get the result, and those affected will be treated or managed.

“I will also be in a position to assess the number of people that are coronavirus positive or otherwise, as well as estimate scientifically,” Ishaku said.

He argued that the situation of the state not having any case is full of doubts because no one has come forward for sample collection and those that have been tested were found negative.

Governor Ishaku further stated that the process involved in taking the samples to Abuja, awaiting the results and returning back to the state is tedious.

“I think we need to do a lot more to reduce the rate of infections, for instance in public places, the FG should look into having automated machines that can screen individuals when entering or exiting public offices”.

On why he has decided to ease the lockdown, the governor noted that though he feels uncomfortable to do so and apart from the forthcoming council polls, residents are also complaining of their inability to get their daily bread for survival.

Earlier in his remark, the leader of the delegation Sa’adu Abubakar, the Federal Commissioner in charge of Northeast, sought the support of the governor to monitor all government interventions.

The interventions to monitor, according to him, include conditional cash transfers, homegrown school feeding programme, distribution of palliatives in response to COVID-19.

Others are donations, distributions and utilization of all forms of support from individuals, public and private organizations as palliatives in response to COVID-19.

Abubakar said the move is to ensure that public officers conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability.

He also asked for assistance from the state government to link them with schedule officers as well as security operatives for smooth operation.

Taraba Suspends COVID-19 Restrictions For LG Polls

Map of Taraba
Taraba is a state in Nigeria’s North-East region.

 

The Taraba state government on Monday suspended the restriction of movement for residents as the state prepares for Local Government Council elections scheduled for June 30.

The restrictions had been imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

According to a statement released by the State Governor’s spokesman, Bala Dan Abu, residents are free from the restrictions between June 23 to July 6.

“Government has, however, advised the people not to forget to observe all the already well-publicised measures against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said.

“The government also reminded the general public that the state’s borders with its neighbours remain closed until further notice and security agencies are under instruction to enforce the closure strictly.”

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Taraba has recorded 18 cases of the novel coronavirus, with only eight active cases and 10 recoveries as of Sunday evening.

Taraba is yet to record any COVID-19 casualty.

However, the state government has insisted that it has no active case, saying that has been the situation for more than one month.

“As it is now, we don’t have any active case in Taraba. This has been so for the last six weeks,” the governor’s media aide Bala Dan-Abu told Channels Television.