Taraba Facts

Unknown kidnappers have refused to release, Benedict Audu, a medical doctor practising in Abuja, and two others two months after receiving N7 million ransom for their release. Mr Audu, 70, his son, Iramon, 32, and Samaila Akenjinba, 30, a friend of the Audu family were abducted while journeying from Takum in Taraba State to Abuja on March 26. The medical doctor had left Takum, a town in Taraba State, with the intention of meeting a friend in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, before proceeding to Abuja but the aim was cut short by the abductors.

Governor Darius Ishaku on Thursday dissolved the Taraba State House of Assembly and slated June 3 for the commencement of the ninth assembly. The  News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the assembly was dissolved via a letter from Ishaku which was read at the last plenary of the eighth assembly by the outgoing Speaker, Mr Peter Diah, and adopted by members. The Speaker, in his valedictory speech, lauded his colleagues for their tenacity, which he noted engendered a good working relationship with other arms of government. “I can proudly say that our legislation in the past four years has benefitted the good people of Taraba. “Moreover, I must commend the members of the house for the good working relationship we had with the executive, judiciary and among ourselves,” he said. Diah also remembered former member representing Takum 1, Hosea Ibi, who was kidnapped and later killed by his abductors, as well as a former member representing Ardo Kola constitue...

The special military operation in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States known as operation whirl stroke has disclosed that 140 bandits and militias were killed by the force in the last one year of its operation It also said a total of 178 assorted weapons and 3,569 ammunition of different calibers were recovered from bandits in the last one year. The Commander of the special force, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, made this known while displaying the ammunition at an event marking its one year operation. Yekini also said 171 militia elements, including armed herdsmen and criminals linked to the notorious Terwase Agwaza (Gana), were arrested. According to Yekini, over 250,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) have returned home since the inception of operation, adding that "215,000 in Benue State; 30,000 in Taraba State and 5,000 in Nasarawa State have returned home." He further disclosed that 38 identified militia camps were destroyed across the three states (21 in ...

Gov. Ishaku gets sworn in for second term Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku on Wednesday appealed to opposition parties to join hands with his administration to make the State great. Ishaku made the appeal shortly after taking oath of office as the Governor of Taraba for the second term at a well attended colourful ceremony in Jalingo. The Governor, who noted that the time for politicking was over, appealed to aggrieved persons to close ranks and support his administration for a better Taraba. “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the opposition to join hands with me to bring development to the State and to collectively bequeath a Taraba of our dreams to the generations yet unborn. “The time for politics is over, now it is time for governance and we must close ranks, unite and work together for the benefit of all the people of Taraba,” he appealed. Ishaku who lamented the spate of insecurity in the State appealed to the people to rise above the antics...

The Taraba Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday warned parties not to attempt to influence members of the panel. The chairman of the tribunal, Justice M.O. Adewara, gave the warning in his inaugural speech. The tribunal, relocated from Jalingo to Abuja. “The Warning becomes imperative because the tribunal’s decisions will be based solely on the evidence before it and the applicable law. “Any attempts to influence either the tribunal or its members would not only be resisted but also be exposed. “Our decisions shall be based solely on the evidence led before us and the applicable law. “You need not attempt to influence the tribunal or its members as any such attempt will not only be resisted but same will be exposed,” Justice Adewara warned. The chairman submitted that election petition matters were sui generis and as such time bound. He noted that by the provisions of Section 285(6) of the 19...

President Muhammadu Buhari meets behind closed doors with Northern Governors over rising insecurity in the region.  The meeting, our correspondent report started around 12:30pm at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Governors in attendance as at the time the meeting started were; Kashim Shettima (Borno), Simon Lalong (Plateau),Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katisna) Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).  The governors meeting started after the president’s meeting with the South South Monarchs’ Forum. The meeting, our correspondent report started around 12:30pm at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Governors in attendance as at the time the meeting started were; Kashim Shettima (Borno), Simon Lalong (Plateau),Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katis...

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that three suspected kidnappers, who collected N8 million ransom from their victim and later killed him, have been arrested. The Commanding Officer of 20 Battalion, Serti in Taraba State, Lt. Col. Adamu Mohammed Sani, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists in Jalingo, adding that the suspects were arrested by soldiers at Goje villages along Serti-MayoSelbe road in Gashaka local government area of the state. According to him, the suspects had confessed that they were the one who kidnapped one Alhaji Maijama’a after collecting N8 million from his family. He said the suspects had told the family of late Maijama’a while collecting the ransom that they dealt with Maijama’a because he was stubborn. Lt Col. Adamu Muhammed also revealed that the suspects had confessed that they were the ones who abducted the chief press secretary to Governor Darius Ishaku, Mallam Hassan Mijinyawa, early this year along Bali-Serti road. ...

Taraba State has been allocated 1,507 seats for the 2019 hajj exercise. The secretary of the state pilgrims’ welfare board, Umar Leme, disclosed this to Daily Trust yesterday. ADVERTISEMENT HERE He said the fare for each intending pilgrim from the state was fixed for N1. 5million. He assured of the board’s commitment to pilgrims’ welfare. DAILY TRUST 

Federal government is to provide more facilities  to the modern grazing reserve at “Wurro Barkantiyo” in Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba state in its effort to encourage ranching. The Director, Social Mobilization and Women Development in the National Commision for Nomadic Education, Muhammad Dan’iya Eldapate  disclosed this to North East Trust.                  ADVERTISEMENT   He said a sensitization and mobilization campaign program, designed to improve access and equity for nomads, was conducted in the state. According to him, the campaign was to enlighten the pastoralists on the new National Livestock Transformation Plan for  2019-2028  to convert  grazing reserves into ranches as well as the need for them to adopt the new  policy.           ADVERTISEMENT  HERE  Malam Muhammad explained that the plan was also designed to ensure t...

To further strengthen Primary Health Care delivery in Taraba state, plans have been concluded by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) to renovate health facilities in five out of the sixteen local government councils of state. The 72 hours make over which would be carried out in health facilities spread across the demonstration local government councils which are, Ardo-Kola, Gassol, Jalingo, Sardauna and Wukari is scheduled to commenced next month. The Executive Secretary of the State Primarily Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA), Alhaji Aminu Jauro Hassan, who made this known yesterday during the review of the state family planning work plan held at the multipurpose hall of the Fast Track hotel located in Jalingo metropolis, lauded the decision of the organization to expand addition energy and resources in renovating the facilities which he believed would not only go a long way to address challenges confronting family planning in the state but as well as other health chall...

JALINGO –  The eighth Taraba State House of Assembly passed 24 bills; it also passed several resolutions. This was disclosed during a, induction/orientation workshop for members-elect, which ended on Wednesday in Jalingo. According to speaker of the House, Abel Diah, “Despite the daunting challenges we faced during the period under review, ranging from communal clashes, insurgencies, Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Bill and the kidnapping of our dear colleague, Barr Hosea Ibi, which eventually led to his untimely death, this House rose against these challenges to pass 24 bills, which were assented into laws and several resolutions”. Diah, while opening the workshop, stated that the essence of the retreat was to expose members-elect to the modus operandi of legislative activities. While advising the members-elect, the speaker said, “The secret of a successful legislature is dialogue with one another and with other arms of gov...

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has arrested thirteen illegal medicine dealers in Taraba state. PCN’s director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Jalingo, said weaknesses in the distribution chain of medicine and the proliferation of illegal medicine stores are major problems to be addressed by the council. He explained that most of the medicine stores do not have appropriate storage facilities thus exposing medicines to adverse environmental factors that degrade them and make them unsuitable for human consumption. “One of the identified weaknesses in the distribution chain is the proliferation of illegal medicine stores. “Most of these premises do not have appropriate storage facilities thus exposing medicines to adverse environmental factors that degrade them and make them unsuitable for human consumption,” Pharm. Esumobi said He maintained that these illegal outlets do not have pharmacists to supervise the dispens...

The speaker Taraba state house of assembly Hon. Peter Abel Diah has urge the members elect at the Taraba state house of assembly to engage the services of only qualify and sound mind aids to make an effective 9th assembly in the state. The speaker stated this in Jalingo Taraba state capital during a two day inauguration induction/orientation for members elect for the 9th assembly of the Taraba state house of assembly. Diah said appointments legislative aids of the members of the state housees of assembly, members of representatives and senators is key for effective legislation at all levels.  He lamented the appointments of legislative aids by members base on political associates and family relationships regardless on how effective such aids would carry out their normal routines to make their job  fruitful for the progress of the house of assembly. He therefore urge the members elect for the 9th assembly in the Taraba state house of assembly to appoint ...

Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says any governor that promises to tackle insecurity is lying. The governor’s statement comes a few days after  he banned the use of polythene  and plastic bags in the state to boost clean environment. Ishaku said this while fielding questions from journalists after he flagged off the distribution of fertilizers, seedlings, and agrochemicals to farmers for the 2019 farming season, in Jalingo, on Wednesday. The governor reiterated the need for the establishment of state police in the country to curb the growing challenge of insecurity. He also called on the residents of the state to keep praying to God for peace to reign in the state, adding that he cannot do anything about the security challenges bedeviling the state. “If any governor tells you that he will do anything about insecurity, such a governor is lying,” he said. “As governors, we don’t have control over the police or army and virtually there is nothin...

Three persons in the early hours of Tuesday died in a ghastly motor accident involving the Council Chairman of Donga Local Government Area in Taraba state, Hon. Nashuka Ipeyen. Our correspondent gathered that three others sustained serious injuries in the accident which occurred near Mutum-Biyu along Jalingo-Wukari Road. Nashuka who narrated the incident to our correspondent in Jalingo said his official Toyota Hilux Van which he was travelling in had a head-on collision with a commercial vehicle on his way to Jalingo and three people died in the accident. The chairman who blamed the early morning rain and potholes on the road said his driver had a fractured leg and was receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo. “I thank God for sparing my life in the accident, though some persons were not that lucky and they died instantly. “My heartfelt sympathy goes to the families of the deceased and I pray God to grant the deceased eternal rest. ...

Gunmen on Monday killed a police officer and two others in separate attacks in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.  The Caretaker Chairman of Wukari LGA, Dr Daniel Adi, confirmed this development in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Jalingo.  Adi said a man and his son were killed on their farm near the General Hospital, Wukari, while a police officer was killed in an ambush near Vaasealong, a community in Taraba/Benue border.  “Mr Sale and his son were killed on their farm this morning while a mobile police officer was killed in an ambush near Vaase. “The police were on a normal patrol in the area and were ambushed on their way back to Wukari. One officer was killed while two others sustained varying degrees of injury and their vehicle was destroyed  by the attackers. “We have evaluated the victims and the survivors are receiving treatment at the Wukari General Hospital,” he said.  The Taraba State Police...