Taraba Facts

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, yesterday said his Ekiti counterpart, Ayodele Fayose was instrumental to the judicial victory he recorded at the Supreme Court after losing at the Appellate Court. In the same vein, his counterparts from Akwa Ibom and Abia States, Hon Emanuel Udom and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, respectively, disclosed that Fayose has been a pillar of support to their administrations, adding that the governor played similar role during their travails at the Election Petition Tribunal. The governors said this in Ado Ekiti while attending the commissioning of some projects executed by the administration of Governor Fayose. Aside from the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, other governors who graced the ceremony include Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe Ishaku, while speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony organised in honour of his judicial v...

‎ Former Acting Governor, Alh Garba Umar UTC  Fresh facts have emerged on how former Taraba State acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar UTC saved over N30 billion by constructing three federal roads within two years of his administration. Garba UTC decisions to embark on the road projects in 'raining days' is currently providing a great relief for the state whose currently owing salaries and pension arrears. Federal government will eventually refund N28 to N30 billion to the Taraba State government for the construction of the federal roads under former acting governor UTC. President Buhari speaking at a meeting with members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the Federal Government will strive to make more funds available to the states by expediting action on refunds due to them for the maintenance of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the Federal Government. A Federal government verifica...

The Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) on Friday donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno, camping at different locations in Jalingo. The Secretary of the body, Alhaji Umar Gulani, presented the materials to Gov. Darius Ishaku for onward distribution to the IDPs. Gulani told the IDPs that the Federal Government was committed to ending insurgency and communal clashes in parts of the country to enable all IDPs to go back to their homes. He urged the IDPs to support government’s efforts by maintaining peace at their host communities. The materials we have brought for you today are meant to alleviate your sufferings at the moment. Government is working tirelessly to put an end to all forms of insurgency and crisis across the country so that you go back home. I, therefore, urge you to be at peace with your host community and among yourselves as a mark of appreciation and support to government’s efforts. Receiving t...

All is now set for the ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which will be conducted on Saturday 30th April, 2016. Public Relations Officer of the party in the State, Inuwa Bakari who made this known while speaking with our  correspondent in Jalingo explained that officials to conduct the election have been mobilized as eighteen executives  and three delegates would be elected during the ward congress. He also  said every PDP card bearer is free to vote and be voted for in an open ballot election, adding that officials of the party from the National Headquarters and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state would be present to monitor the congress. He further stated that PDP believes in internal democracy and would not prevent anyone from contesting any position in the party,hence called on members of the party in the state to conduct themselves peacefully during the congress. -Taraba Voices

The state of the Mambilla hydro-electric power project is still where it was since the contract was awarded to two Chinese firms in May 28, 2007, Daily Trust reports.  The contract was awarded to China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC) and another Chinese consortium, Sinohydro at the sum of $3.2 billion (N508 billion). President Buhari during his recent visit to China had promised  a speedy completion of the project. The project initiated in 1982, with targeted capacity to generate 3,050 megawatts, will be the biggest single hydro-power station in Nigeria.  Nigeria has 19 thermal stations with a combined capacity of 4,755 megawatts. The biggest of these is Egbin in Lagos (1,006 mw) followed by Ibom Power, Akwa Ibom (529 mw), Ughelli, Delta (515 mw), Okpai, also in Delta (452 mw), Ihovbor, Benin (279 mw) and Omotosho (254 mw). The six top thermal stations have a total capacity of 3030 mw which is still far less than Mambilla’s expected 3050 mw. Durin...

Jolly Nyame Justice Adebukola Banjoko of FCT High Court on Monday admitted EFCC’s 2007 statements as exhibits and overruled Jolly Nyame, the ex-Taraba governor’s objections, thereby ending a three-year trial-within-trial. Banjoko gave the verdict in his ruling after taking into consideration evidence of both the prosecution and the defence counsel. The ruling has brought to an end the three-year trial-within-trial which began in 2013. The statements were confessional statements to the EFCC, dated June 6 and June 7, 2007 as well as that of July 11,2007. “After a careful consideration of the totality of evidence, the court is satisfied that the prosecution had established to the satisfaction of the court the reliability of the statements,’’ the judge said. Banjoko also said that the mere fact that a statement in a confession was elicited by a question put by a police officer recording it does not make the statement irrelevant. Nyame is being prosecuted by the Economic and Fina...

The Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) has sealed eight filling stations in Adamawa and Taraba states and recovered 190, 000 litres of petroleum products diverted by a major marketer in the two states. DPR’s Operations Controller for the states, Mr. Sunday Musa Akem, told journalists yesterday in Numan, Adamawa State, that he was at A Salisu Nigeria Limited filling station to monitor the sale of the recovered products, alleging that it was notorious for diversion of products allocated to it. He said that at six different times between December last year and this month, the station diverted 190,000 litres of PMS, which was recovered and sold to motorists at the approved pump price. Akem said the station was caught by DPR officials selling PMS at N2000 per litre and has been fined N200 per litre, adding that other stiff measures would be taken against it before been allowed to lift the products in future. This, he said, is to serve as a warning to other marketers sabotaging ...

Fresh Violence Erupts In Taraba, ’10 killed’ At least 10 people have been killed and several houses burnt in fresh violence that erupted on Friday in Taraba State, witnesses say. Premium Times But police said only two people died in the clashes between the Shumo and Wurkum ethnic groups in Karim Lamido Local Government area of the state. Residents said the violence started around 2am Friday when a village, named Shumon Gwaye, belonging to Shumo ethnic group, was attacked by suspected Wurkum youth. The attack on the Shumo village led to reprisals attacks on Didango, a Wurkum community. The Police Public Relations Officer for Taraba State, Joseph Kwaji, said only two people were killed in the conflict. “Some suspected Shumo youth invaded and attacked Didango village,” the PPRO said. “Two people were killed,” he added Mr. Kwaji, a deputy superintendent of police, also confirmed that 11 houses had been torched. He said the police had drafted more operatives to...

Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) yesterday paraded the state Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Ishaku Kashere, for alleged diversion of fuel allocated to a filling station in Jalingo. The Command also paraded three other suspects in connection to the fuel diversion alongside a petrol tanker belonging to the NARTO chairman. Parading the suspects before newsmen at the command headquarters in Jalingo, State Commandant of the NSCDC, Kamilu Ado Isah, said his men apprehended the suspects while dispensing the commodity in jerry cans to black marketers at about 11:15pm on Monday along Jalingo/Yola Road. The NSCDC Commandant explained that the petrol tanker loaded with 40 thousand litres of fuel was allocated to an MRS filling station in the state capital, but the suspects only gave 12,300 litres to the station and diverted the rest to black marketers. Kamilu said the NSCDC command in the state wou...

The Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, has promised that his administration would do its best to make farming more attractive in the state. Ishaku, who spoke through his commissioner for agriculture, Dr David Ishaya, said that his administration would provide necessary inputs to assist farmers during the rainy season. He added that government has made concerted efforts to provide fertilisers to farmers for all-year-round agriculture for the production of assorted crops for consumption and export. “As we speak, plans are ongoing to have an alternative means other than depending completely on oil,” he said. Advertisement He noted that already a master plan on how to ensure the availability of modern farming equipment at government-controlled price had been produced for implementation and assured the people of the three senatorial zones of the state that he would provide enabling environment for farmers to access farming tools. According to him, the present...

There is possibility that the attackers of some communities in Gashaka and Bali recently, which resulted to so many deaths may have colluded with fulani residents in the affected communities. This was made known in the observations and findings of the House committee on Public Petitions, Internal Security, Ethics and Privileges on the killing of villagers by herdsmen in Gashaka LGA.  Presenting the report before the House on Tuesday 19th April, 2016, Chairman of the committee, Charles Maijankai, PDP, Karim 1 constituency, observed that, ‘the village of Dori of Garbabi ward was invaded by fulani herdsmen after murdering a Dori woman who went to the farm between 8th and 9th April, 2016 and that on Sunday when the villagers were worshipping in the church, the herdsmen attacked villagers both in the churches and at home. Secondly, the attackers of the village of Dori are Fulani herdsmen from outside the village. They were mostly in military uniforms, shooting g...

The Taraba State Police Command has debunked rumours of arresting Boko Haram militants during the recent communal clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Gashaka Local Government area. The State Police Commissioner Alkali Shaba told TVC NEWS that there is no iota of truth in media reports that claimed that some Boko Haram members were arrested in connection to the attack. He explained that seven people have been apprehended including the mastermind of the attack.

A man identified as Kusuku Martins (80) has slumped and died in Jalingo, Taraba State, when he learnt that his name was omitted from government’s pension payroll. The incident occurred last Thursday around 4pm on Barde Way, near Government House Junction. It was learnt that the late Martins came from Gembu, Mambilla Plateau to the state capital to process his pension at the state pension board which had not been paid in the past two months. The man went to the board to complain of the non-payment of his pension but discovered that his name was even omitted on this month’s payroll. Thereafter, he went to the state office of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners to lodge a complaint. But as he came out of the union office, Martins suddenly collapsed and died instantly by the roadside. The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Hassan Abubakar, confirmed the incident. He described it as “pathetic and terrible.” - TodayNG

TVC NEWS (YOLA) - The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged-off the distribution of grains and building materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Adamawa and Taraba states in the northern part of the country. The Secretary to the Federal Government, Babacir David Lawal, who declared open the distribution said the gesture was part of government effort to ameliorate the suffering of the victims. Babacir who was represented by Ibrahim Bapetel, the Senior Special Assistant Policy/Strategy to the President assured victims of government commitment to their welfare. The Adamawa state camps coordinator of National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) Saad Bello who spoke with TVC NEWS at the occasion explained that relief material will be of great assistance to the victims of Taraba State communities clashes. Most of the victims of the insurgency who spoke with TVC NEWS commended the government effort but appealed to the government to build the destroyed electricity...

The team leader of the General T.Y. Danjuma Foundation, Dr. Pokop W. Bubwatda, has said the foundation has targeted eight states across the country to be assisted in the health care sector, especially free eye treatment. Bubwatda disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Jos, Plateau State on Sunday. He said over N156,349,362 has been approved for free eye treatment for the people of Plateau State. According to him, the Foundation will implement nine projects in Community Health Initiatives with a total grant of N100,826,102. According to him: “Apart from the eye surgeries, mostly on cataracts, a total of 860 patients were diagnosed, with 553 given corrective eye glasses free by the foundation. “It is expected that the fund will improve the quality of life and wellbeing of people living in three communities in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State through the drilling of three solar-powered boreholes; increase community awareness on sanitation and hygiene; build ...

Former deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC Honourable Saidu Babangida Nguroje , yesterday said the Mambila Power project located in Taraba state is one sure way of boosting agriculture and job creation, if completed. The APC stalwart also stated that the Mambila hydro electricity project with the capacity to generate 4,000 megawatts of electricity would be act as a major boost to efforts of the current administration to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to agriculture, particularly in the area of tea production, which according to him could create over 150,000 jobs for a start and generate a minimum of N5billion for the country annually. Speaking to LEADERSHIP Newspapers, Nguroje  who commended efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that the Mambila Power project is completed, following his recent meeting with the Mr Li Keqiang, the Premier of the state Council of the Peoples Republic of China as  a...

The Taraba State government has described the recent claim by the state chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria that 50 of its members were killed in fresh attacks as complete falsehood and “a ploy to shield its members who are strongly believed to have carried out attacks”. The state chapter of the association reportedly said that at least 50 of its members were killed in the current crisis between herdsmen and Ndoro people in Gashaka Local Government Area of the state. READ Miyetti-Allah Condemns Police Bias, Says 50 Cattle Breeders Killed In Taraba Clash  http://tarabafacts.blogspot.com.ng/2016/04/miyetti-allah-condemns-police-bias-says.html?m=1  The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Silvanus Giwa, who faulted the claim in Abuja yesterday in a statement said: “The claim by the leadership of Miyetti Allah was a mockery of the victims of the recent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen who allegedly c...

A Jalingo chief magistrates’ court on Friday sentenced Dominic Bukuni, one of the aides of Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, to two years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. Bebeto Haruna, 32, who was arraigned along with Bukuni, also bagged nine years jail sentence. In his judgment, which lasted three hours, Yusuf Babasoro, chief magistrate, said the prosecution had proven its case beyond any reasonable doubt that the two accused were guilty of the offences as charged. Babasoro said Haruna was guilty on the 1st and 2nd counts for impersonation and cheating, which were contrary to sections 132 and 322 of the penal code. He said the offences attracted a fine of N5,000 and N10, 000 or jail terms of six months and one year respectively. The magistrate also convicted Haruna on a three-count charge of fraud to the tune of N3.5million and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of fine. According to Babasoro, Haruna defraud...

TY Danjuma A non-governmental organisation, Chagro Care Trust, and TY Danjuma Foundation have donated relief materials to the internally displaced persons. The relief materials were donated to displaced persons from Goza in Borno being camped in Mansutu village of Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba. The Programme Officer of Chagro care Trust, Miss Rijimra Ande, distributed the items directly to the IDPs. Ande said the IDPs had stayed in the rural community for three years before they were discovered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR). She said the UN agency drew the organisation’s attention to the camp which it responded immediately with a need assessment visit to the rural community. The programme officer called on the government, organisations and well meaning individuals to identify with the plight of the IDPs to make life more meaningful for them. “To be honest, when we came for need assessment, we were tempted not to com...