Taraba Facts

Taraba State Governor Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku has approved the appointment of Mr. Polycarp Iranius as the New Auditor General of Taraba State.  In a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Darius Ishaku, Hassan Mijinyawa said “the appointment is subject to confirmation of the Taraba State House of Assembly.” The New Auditor General who is a Certified Accountan t and a member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, holds his first degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri as well as a Master’s Degree in Accounting from Federal University of Technology Yola, respectively. Mr. Polycarp Iranius started his civil service career in the Office of the Auditor General of the State in 1992 and rose through the ranks. Also contained in the release indicates that until his present appointment he was the Chief Auditor, he hails from Karim Lamido Local Government of the State. - Taravoices

“I heard that some people have said I will not continue as a politician and that I am worried. Why should I be worried? President Buhari contested three times and became the President after the fourth contest. Not because he lost the first three, but because the fourth time was God’s time.” Those were the words of Senator Aisha Alhassan, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Taraba State in the 2015 election, following the verdict of the Supreme Court which upheld the election of her main challenger, Architect Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Apex Court had, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the election of Governor Ishaku and dismissed the petition filed by Senator Alhassan and the APC. The court in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour,  held that the APC and Aisha could not query the validity of the nomination of Ishaku since they were not members of the Peoples Democratic Party that sponsored him. The d...

A gang of suspected kidnappers were chased away by youths of Maihula Village in Bali local government area of Taraba state when they attempted to abduct a young businessman Alhaji Bala Maimai. The gang numbering about 10 entered the village at about 3.30am on Sunday and made straight to the resident of the businessman, Daily Trust learnt. A witness who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Daily Trust said after the suspected kidnappers forced their way into the resident of Alhaji Maimai, they started firing gun shots sporadically and this awakened the residents in the neighbourhood. Daily Trust correspondent reports that four persons had been abducted in similar fashion from the community in the last months. The villagers reportedly came out in their numbers on Sunday night to confront the gunmen. The initial target of the kidnappers Alhaji Maimai escaped by jumping through the fence in his house while the youths in the villag...

 – At least ten people have been killed in inter-communal violence in Taraba State.  – The fighting is the latest incident amid ongoing tension between residents of the towns of Ibbi and Wukari.  – Policemen and soldiers have been deployed to restore law and order and a curfew has been imposed. At least ten people have died and dozens have been injured after a new and brutal bout of inter-communal violence in Ibbi town, the capital of the Ibbi local government area of Taraba state. Several residential and commercial buildings were set ablaze in the fighting, leaving a scene of ruinous devastation. The state government has already imposed a curfew in the area and further repressive actions are possible. Armed and angry hoodlums on the rampage in Taraba The crisis started when a man named as Ibrahim Uba, a civil defense corps official, was killed by unknown gunmen. This resulted in an retaliatory attack on the area’s residents by unidentified armed hoodl...

Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed over the weekend  following a communal crisis between Jole and Shomo ethnic groups in Lau local government area of Taraba State. LEADERSHIP gathered that the clash was as a result of a disagreement over the ownership of a fish pond located in an area between the two ethnic groups. Speaking to the warring communities yesterday in Lau, the caretaker chairman of Lau LGA, Mr. Nelson Banker urged the two communities to lay down their arms in order to enable the government  investigate the cause of the crisis. He warned the people of the area to stay away from the pond and threatened that government would not hesitate in taking a drastic action against anybody connected to the crisis in the areas. He called on those who fled the area as a result of the incident to return to their respective homes. He said adequate security had been provided. When contacted the Taraba State police public relations ...

Wives of Commissioners in the state have been called upon to join hands with the present administration and work together in order to improve the state. Wife of the Taraba State Governor, Barr. Anna Darius Ishaku made this call when the group paid her a courtesy visit at her Hope Afresh Foundation office in Jalingo today. The Governor’s wife who stressed that a lot is needed to be done also stated that the visit signified the beginning of new things . She promised to work with them in order to put Taraba State on the world map and charged them to support, advise and encourage their husbands so as to enable them succeed in the rescue mission agenda of repositioning the state. Earlier in her speech, the leader of the delegation, Mrs.Ediseh Jesse Ashumate while congratulating Her Excellency over the victory at the Supreme Court, appreciated God who had made it possible. Mrs. Ashumate further appreciated His Excellency, the Executive Governor for honoring...

The Chairman of Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Labour congress (NLC), Comrade Gambo Peter  has said that the Taraba State Government is owing retired civil servants  over N11billion pension arrears and gratuity.  He told Daily Trust in an interview that state civil servants and local government workers that retired from service last year were yet to get their gratuity and pension. Comrade Peter said lack of payment of retirement benefits had caused social trauma to retired  workers in the state.    He said some of the retired workers were facing serious hardship, as a result of which many of them have died.  

Governor Darius ishaku of Taraba state has suspended 7 district heads for allocating lands to migrants from Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa ,Sokoto,Yobe and Niger states. Darius announced the suspension of the traditional rulers during a meeting with Emirs and chiefs in his office, He said the migrants have become security  threat to the state and were responsible of armed robbery, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state. "crime wave especially armed robbery,cattle rustling,kidnapping and other related criminal activities are on the increase as a result of the influx of illegal migrants from these states"Darius stated. The traditional rulers suspended were district heads of Kungana,Takalafiya and Maihula as well as village head of sabon Dale all in Bakundi chiefdom. Others were district head of Tella and village heads of Sandirde and Taka Wurkun in Gassol chiefdom -Daily Trust

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Monday gave reasons for affirming the election of Darius Dickson Ishaku as the validly elected governor of Taraba state in the April 11, 2015 governorship election held in the state. The apex court, who dismissed an appeal brought before it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan challenging Ishaku's election, slated yesterday to give reasons for its judgment delivered on February 11, 2016. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who read the reasons of the Supreme Court in its judgment on the Taraba State Governorship election appeal held that APC and its governorship candidate have no locus standi (legal right) to file the petition to challenge Governor Ishaku's election. The seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court said the appeal was dismissed for lacking in merit, adding also that, "the appeal has no redeemable substance and is accordingly dismissed". Rhodes-Vivour ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the three legislative positions contested at Saturday’s re-run in Taraba. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Habu Zarma, announced the results at a press briefing on Sunday in Jalingo. Zarma said that the PDP candidate, Mr Dan-Asabe Hosea, won the Sardauna/Kurmi/Gashaka Federal Constituency with 37,645 votes, while his closest rival, Ibrahim Elsudi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received 37,609 votes. The commissioner added that the former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mr Abel Diah of the PDP also defeated Mr Emmanuel Bongo of the APC for the Mbamnga state Constituency with 7,825 votes as against 5,642 votes. He said that Mr Emmanuel Dame of the PDP got the victory for Ardo Kola state constituency with 12,138 votes over Alhaji Sanusi Janbawaile of the APC who got 11,047 votes. The REC thanked stakeholders for ensuring peaceful election across the affected areas in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria...

Following her recent loss to the incumbent governor of Taraba state, Darius Ishaku, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, has come out to state that she won’t congratulate the governor. Alhassan, who contested the election on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress, had high hopes of being the first female to be democratically elected governor in Nigeria. But the hopes were dashed when the Supreme Court dismissed her suit challenging the victory of Darius Ishaku in the 2015 general election. In a statement issued, on Friday, the Minister stated that: “I have heard that some people have said that I will not continue as a politician and that I am worried.” “Why should I be worried? If President Buhari contested 3 times and became the President after the 4th contest. Not because he lost the first three, but because the fourth time was God’s time.” “Why wouldn’t I continue? I didn’t get it this time because it...

‎ Following the air crash that involved former governor Danbaba Suntai, there was the emergence of what became known as the Taraba cabal of which was involved in a power tussle; can you tell us about the cabal and what has become of it? I have heard people talk about the cabal in Taraba I don’t think the cabal is any mysterious group. Initially it had to do with some gladiators or principal actors in Taraba politics who claimed to share a common aspiration, goal or agenda that came together to pursue an interest that was political. I know them by the tip of my fingers because I was once with them. I was a member of the cabal and we were all working together holding meetings in several locations and different times essentially on how to move Taraba forward and galvanize the kind of development that Taraba people expect. Unfortunately personal ambitions took over the fundamental focus of the cabal. Those of us who didn’t agree with the new principle; who felt the cabal was derailin...

All is now set for supplementary elections into Kurmi/Gashaka/Sardauna federal constituency as well as Mbamga and Ardo Kola state constituencies in Taraba state tomorrow, Saturday February 20. Independent National Election Commission, INEC had a fortnight ago announced February 20 as date for supplementary elections in one federal constituency and two state constituencies in the state. INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Umar at a stakeholders meeting in Jalingo said the commission was ready for the election and have distributed non-sensitive materials while sensitive materials would be distributed today, Friday ahead of Saturday’s elections. He informed that only registered voters who have already obtained their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs would vote in the election, explaining that only those that voted during the last election would vote come Saturday. On its part, APC chairman in the state, Alhaji Ardo Jika expressed confidence that their candidate Emma...

Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku has released N4million for the payment of NECO and WAEC fees for all final year secondary school students in the state. Speaking to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Jalingo, the state commissioner for Education, Mr. Johanies Jighem said the payment was part of effort by present administration to revive the education sector in the state. He added that the state government has also directed all secondary schools principals in the state to summit a comprehensive report of condition of their respective schools. He stressed that the report would enable the present administration to carry out renovation of dilapidated structures and provide the necessary materials. “The government intend to provide conducive atmosphere in all the secondary schools in the state with a view to encouraging learning among students,” he said. He noted that Governor Ishaku who promised to rescue the state said he would live no stone unturned in developing all sectors ...

A bill seeking to amend the Taraba physical feasibility act 2016 has gone through second reading at the State House of Assembly.  The Majority Leader moved that the bill be laid before the House giving rise to the intending deliberation and further passage.  Another bill on the Taraba State rural water supply and sanitation agency also passed second reading. The bill have been referred to the Committee on rule and business to schedule a suitable date for the commencement of debate on the two bills. -CoreTVnews

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has declared that his administration will not disappoint the people of the state. Ishaku, who spoke to LEADERSHIP through his senior special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Slyvanus Yakubu Giwa yesterday in Jalingo, said his administration is anchored on God almighty and will work to provide dividends of democracy for the growth of the state. “His excellency has told Tarabans that he has come to rescue the state and in keeping to his promises, some unimaginable developments have started taking place across the length and breadth of  state” he said. He said that the governor would strive not to fail the people of Taraba State, stressing that he would work to deliver on all fronts. ‘‘He noted that  despite the financial challenges placed before him by the past government, he will do all his best to ensure that workers get their salaries as at when due and without having to suffer in the process.’’ He added that the ...

A family of seven, including an unborn baby, have been confirmed killed in an attack on Gidan Sarkin Noma in lbbi Local Government Area of Taraba State, a boundary between Plateau and Taraba states. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, said the incident happened on Friday, at about midnight. Kwaji said: “The Divisional Police in charge of the area, including the Divisional Police Officer, have been drafted to the area, which is the boundary of Plateau and Taraba states.” An eyewitness, Mallam Ilayasu Sabo, said: “We were forced to run inside River Benue and cross to the other side of the river, because the attackers came with sophisticated weapons, shooting randomly.” Sabo said the affected family were given mass burial, as their bodies were badly affected. According to him: “Another person was killed yesterday at Gungun Abdullahi by the same attackers suspected to be Jukun Bannu.” A relation of the one of the victims, Kabiru Usman Jibbu, said: “People in...

A business man, Alhaji Ali Maibulawus was on Saturday night abducted by unknown persons at Maihula village in Bali Local government area of Taraba state. Maibulawus, a prominent man in the community was abducted the gunmen shortly after he returned from a business trip, Daily Trust learnt. Only last week, the mother of the deputy governor of the state was kidnapped from her home but later released after the family allegedly paid some millions of naira. The kidnappers of Maibulawus are demanding for N5million ransom his family, Daily Trust’s checks reveals. The latest abduction brings the number of kidnap victims in the last three months in Bali and Gassol local government areas of the state to 10. Our findings further revealed that each of the kidnapped persons had paid between N3 million to N15million to regain their freedom. The spoke man of the Taraba state police command DSP Joseph Kwaji was not immediately available for comment.

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given kudos to Judiciary for, according to it, showing that it remains the window of hope for democracy to strive in this country. The party's observation followed on Thursday's Supreme Court's judgment affirming the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Darius Ishaku, as the validly elected governor of Taraba State. According to a statement issued by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja on Thursday, the "bold and patriotic approach of the Supreme Court of the land in the various tribunal cases goes a long way to show that it is indeed the last hope of the down trodden." It added: "Without such landmark judgments from the Supreme Court perhaps there would have been no Nigeria and we salute them for their courage in delivering justice to the people. "We therefore warn APC and the Federal Government to stop insulting judiciary as there is ...

‎ The Taraba State Chairman of the All Pregressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Hassan Jika Ardo has described the administration of governor Darius Ishaku as autocratic. Ardo, who stated this yesterday in Jalingo during an interview with journalists alleged that the only arm of government that is functioning in the state is the executive. “Ishaku as I speak with you has completely bought  the judiciary and the  legislative arm of government in the state, he has used the state government resources to render them useless, look at the recent election of Mark Usani as speaker of state house of assembly, imagine, governor Ishaku, the chief judge of the state and the speaker of the house are from the same zone, in the history of Nigeria, this kind of thing has never happened anywhere expect Taraba State” he said. He said that the executive which is the only functioning arm of government in the state always direct the judiciary and the legislative arms of government to d...

Mother of Taraba state Deputy Governor Hajiya Belli Manu has been kidnapped by unknown persons. The incident happened at about 9.30pm Monday by gunmen, Daily Trust learnt. She was kidnapped at her residence in Bakin Kasuwa area of Mutum Biyu town, some 70 kilometers from Jalingo, the state capital. Daily Trust gathered that the kidnappers numbering about ten also killed a middle aged man at the front of the deputy governor’s family house before taking his mother away. The chairman of Gassol local government area Alhaji Tukura Bashiru confirmed the incident. The police spokesman was not immediately available for comment. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @TarabaFacts FOR MORE UPDATE

‎Youth group under the auspices, The Taraba Youth for Peace, Good Governance and Development has roundly condemned what it described as attacks meant to distract the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state, Professor O. Geoffrey Okogbaa. In a communique jointly signed on Sunday by Samson Bwacha and Innocent Audu, President and Secretary of the group respectively, the Youth group said Professor Okogbaa should rather be commended for turning the institution around at a time when there is widespread concern over the standard of education. The group said it is on record that the current VC conducted the affairs of the school in the most transparent, accountable and judicious manner since the establishment of the institution and should not be rewarded in a manner that suggests Taraba people are ingrates. The communique reads in part, “Those sponsoring the allegations against Professor Okogbaa do not have the interest of Taraba at heart. The stage is open for a...

The trial of an ex-Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, suffered setback on Friday owing to the absence of Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court, Gudu. Nyame is facing trial on a 41-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and embezzlement of more than N1.64 billion state funds while in office. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nyame and his team of lawyers, led by C. U. Edosomwan (SAN), arrived in the court at about 9.30am for the trial. After waiting for more than an hour and there was no indication that the court would sit, they departed the court premises. When contacted by a NAN correspondent, the court clerk, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the court would not sit. The clerk, however, did not give any reason why the judge was absent. NAN reports that the case had been slated for trial-within-trial to enable Nyame prove the allegation that the statement he made in 2007 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecutin...

The Bank of Industry (BoI) has disbursed N700 million for on-lending to entrepreneurs in Taraba State. According to the bank, the funds, which were pulled together by the state government and BoI under its matching fund scheme following the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a N700 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund, will boost economic activities and curtail unemployment. Managing Director BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, while speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony to beneficiaries under the scheme, said a large number of the loan applications were deficient in either documentation or by virtue of line of businesses not covered by the bank. - Daily Trust 

Following the recent Appeal court judgment that set aside the election of the speaker of Taraba state House of Assembly and member representing Mbamga state constituency, Mr Peter Abel Diah, the state house of assembly has elected Mr Mark Bako Useni as speaker. The former speaker, Peter Diah representing Mbamga state constituency election was set aside by the appeal court seating in Yola, and amthor election to be conducted on 20th of February. At the Assembly plenary at about 11 30 am, the Deputy speaker Muhamed Gwampo who presided over the seating through the Clark of the House, Smailu Ukwen communicated to the members on the position of the appeal court on the election of Abel Diah and the standing rules of the house. After declaring the seat of the speaker vacant, the Deputy speaker call for election of the new speaker. The majority leader of the house and member representing Lau state constituency Joseph Albasu Kunini nominated Mark Useni as speaker, t...

Lt-Gen. TY Danjuma (Rtd) The chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiatives (PCNI) retired Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma yesterday  gave  an estimate for rebuilding Boko Haram devastated north east at above N2 trillion. Danjuma made this known while delivering a speech at a National Security Seminar with the theme “Internally Displaced Persons and Post Conflict Peace Building in Nigeria” organized by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), in Abuja.  He said while foreign donors have their roles to play Nigerians must obey the rules and conditions that come with such donations so as not to disgrace the country and betray victims who have been displaced from the region. Danjuma said the rebuilding of the north east would demand maximum cooperation and resources especially in the most affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, which he says will involve the massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure...

The Police in Taraba on Tuesday dismissed speculations of an influx of Boko Haram insurgents into the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Shaba Alkali, made this known to newsmen in Jalingo. “There have been reports that Taraba has witnessed an influx of Boko Haram in the past three weeks. I want to state that the reports are not true,” Alkali said. The commissioner explained that those coming into the state were job seekers and displaced persons running away from trouble areas of Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Adamawa states. According to Alkali, most of those coming into the state are Taraba indigenes resident in the affected states. “A truck conveying more than 50 persons, including women and children, recently intercepted by the police in Jalingo was not transporting Boko Haram members. “After screening them, we discovered that more than 90 per cent of them were indigenes of Taraba returning to the state,” said the police chief. However, he re...