Taraba Facts

Over 200 hunters mobilised by the Taraba State government have engaged kidnappers in a serious battle in the forest and killed many of them, Daily Trust gathered. The hunters, from many part of Taraba State entered into the bush in Mallam Ali area in Ardo-kola Local Government Area and sacked the kidnappers from their den.  Daily Trust gathered that the hunters went into the bush on Monday morning and engaged the kidnappers who have been terrorizing the farming community and the Jalingo-Mutumbiyu federal highway.  The bandits have abducted several passengers and farmers in the last few months, making the road a nightmare for motorists and farmers. A hunter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that many of the bandits were killed while several others were captured alive He said the battle was being fought by hunters only, without the police or soldiers, adding that a son of prominent member of the community was picked over his link wit...

The Federal Government has disbursed over N6 billion to food vendors in Taraba State for school feeding since July 27, 2017. According to the state secretary, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Idris Goje, the disbursement was made in 16 tranches. Goje also said that refunds amounting to over N50 million, the N1.2 million recovered by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the recent refund of N1,140,200 not used in five days were ready for repatriation to the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The NHGSFP secretary, in an interview with The Guardian in Jalingo, said no fewer than 399,091 pupils from 1,800 primary schools across the 16 councils had so far benefited from the programme, adding that pupils’ enrolment had continued to increase.According to him, the programme has not only led to the elimination of malnutrition, but has improved local economy and agriculture.He informed our reporter that “out of the 6,043 food vendors in the state, less than 1...

Despite a bill prescribing death sentence and life imprisonment for kidnappers in Taraba State, which was recently signed into law by the state governor, Architect Darius Ishaku, as well as several security meetings between the governments of Benue and Taraba States, criminals have continue to ply their evil trade in the state. Similar meetings were convened by the Federal Government to contain insecurity and protect the state from the activities of hoodlums, especially kidnapping, armed banditry. Although the Tiv and Jukun killings seem to have waned, the reverse seems to be the case in the area of kidnappers as criminal have continued to smile to the bank on daily basis with their ransom taking. Of recent, it was discovered that the hoodlums, who have not only penetrated the state capital Jalingo, have also not also spared persons living in the rural communities of the state. The villagers are said to be in a hurry to pay ransoms to get victims out of the kidnappers den unhu...

Caretaker  Committee Chairman, Ibi Local Government Council, Taraba State, Bala Bako, has appealed to the emergency management agencies to come to the aid of  flood victims of Dampar community. Bako made the appeal while briefing newsmen on the incident in Ibi local government area which did not spare police outpost, schools and worship centres. According to him, property worth millions of Naira have been destroyed by flood in Dampar community. “The flood which happened late Saturday night has rendered many of the residents homeless and forced them into the  Internally Displaced Persons  (IDPs) camps and some staying with relations,” he said. Malam Hashimu Adinga, the Chief of Dampar said that this was the first time such incident had happened in the area. “Though no loss of life, the rise in water level due to continuous heavy rainfall is scaring as it is the first of its kind in the area,” he said

Taraba police command has confirmed the killing of two persons by kidnappers at NYSC orientation camp, two kilometer away from Jalingo, Taraba state capital. According to information available to  LEADERSHIP revealed that the kidnappers blocked the Wukari Jalingo High Way at about 6:12 PM on Sunday and attempted to divert two vehicles that were proceeding from Wukari to Jalingo to their hide out. The incident as gathered reveal that the two vehicles were coming from Wukari with about 13 passengers when they had encounter with the kidnappers. Although the police public relation officer PPRO Taraba state command David Misar confirm that only two persons were killed by the kidnappers, those who were at the scene insisted that four persons were shot and killed instantly by the kidnappers. Those who spoke to LEADERSHIP at the scene also said some of the passengers were wounded with bullets wounds and were conveyed to the hospital. The PPRO denied knowledg...

Rice farmers in Taraba state are at the moment, going through a tough phase - A massive flood in some parts of the state have destroyed their farms - To make matters worse, most of the crops had matured and were about to be harvested when the flood occurred A report by Daily Trust indicates that several rice farms located by river Taraba and Benue have been destroyed. According to the report, the farms located in Bali and Gassol local government areas of Taraba state were destroyed by a flood. To make matters worse, most of the crops had matured and were about to be harvested when the flood occurred. The massive flood was a result of the heavy rainfall being recorded in the state and many other parts of the country in recent times. A farmer in the area, Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed, said he harvested 500 bags of paddy rice last year but the incident has left him stranded.  According to him, both small and large scale rice farmers were affected by the flood, adding that the situat...

The Taraba State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Peter Gambo on Sunday assured workers in the state of efforts by the union to ensure speedy implementation of the new minimum wage recently arrived at between Labour and the Federal Government. Speaking with newsmen in Jalingo, Gambo said the state would not delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage was due to the harmonious relationship that exists between the state government and the organised labour in the state. Gambo urged workers in the state to remain patient as they wait for the quick and full implementation of the new minimum wage law. The labour leader also advised workers to put in their best to achieve their goal of wealth creation for the generality of the state. “My fellow workers should expect the quick implementation of the new minimum wage. “My conviction stem from the fact that Gov. Darius Ishaku is a labour-friendly governor and he will not delay in the implementation o...

The Audus are one of the families that have been separated and thrown into sorrow by this rising menace. For the Audus not knowing if their breadwinner or their son is still alive, is a torturous pain they have been living every day with for almost months.   On March 10, 2019, Dr Benedict Sule, his son, Iranum Sule, and a family friend, Samaila Akinjiba were kidnapped on their way back to Abuja from Taraba State where they went to cast their votes during the 2019 governorship elections. They’ve since then been in an unknown kidnapper’s den for almost seven months now, leaving their families in a devastating state. The governorship elections have come and gone but the Audus are living with the pain and regret of that period. “My family doesn’t deserve this,” says Habiba Audu, wife of the kidnapped medical doctor. Sixty-three-year-old Habiba, a retired nurse, has been in immense sorrow since her 70-year-old husband and 32-year-old son were kidnapped. “It’s the worst ...

By Fred Hikon I don't know how many mistakes Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, the former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence has made in his lifetime. Himself may not even be able to say, because, as human beings, we make too many to remember all of the mistakes. But I can confidently say, that his decision to bring Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku as the Governor of Taraba State in 2015 and to reinforce the failure in 2019 is already on record as his biggest error and disservice to the people of Taraba State.  After a distinguished career in the military/public service and a flourishing reputation in business, the philanthropic octogenarian, Gen. TY Danjuma will be remembered for giving his people a gift of severe thorn in the flesh. Instead of using his powerful connections and part of his enormous wealth to support them in their fight for survival, he has foisted on them a petty thief and a garrulous incompetent who is a case study in unbelievable thievery, cluelessness and...

Taraba State House of Assembly and security agencies in the state have initiated moves that would tackle the rate of communal Clashes, kidnapping and other security challenges in the State. In a closed door session presided by the Speaker of the house Hon. Peter Abel Diah alongside the Security Chiefs in the State, the house also proffer solutions on how security challenges in the state could be eliminated. In a communique sign by the Assembly and all the security chiefs at the end of the meeting, it was noted that, the security of everyone starts with the individual and that the efforts of the state House of assembly was in the right direction. The meeting commended the efforts Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku in being highly sensitive to security matters and providing logistics to security agencies to tackle security challenges. The meeting commended the security agencies in Taraba State for their prompt and effective handling of security challenges in the State so far. ...

Gongo   Maliki, a farming community, some 13 kilometers, North of Jalingo, Taraba State capital, has enjoyed peace and stability at a time other communities are bedeviled by heart- rendering crimes. The people of the community attend to their farms with uncommon ease, laugh hilariously at the market square and at the end of the day, relax to their delightful beds with their eyes closed. But what is their secret, if one may ask? Determination, commitment and wisdom, echoed a number of personalities in the community who spoke to Daily Sun. To understand their excitement, one only needs to look back a little at what had transpired in their abode. It was  gathered that their treasured peace was broken by a series of unfortunate incidents, which left them at the edge where they were threatened by kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers. According to the district head of Gongo Maliki,  Adamu Jagwa, the activities of these criminals started with the kidnap...

Peace in the offing as Tiv/Jukun warriors agree to cease fire Activities resume at Takun Junction as Jukun and Tiv embrace truce At last, the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups of southern Taraba have agreed to a ceasefire. Fresh moves by key stakeholders to resolve the crisis seem to have bore fruits. At the end of a two-day peace talks held at Government House, Jalingo, a 30-man committee, set up by Governor Darius Ishaku, succeeded in making the warring communities sign a new peace deal and called for suspension of hostilities. They have directed that all road-blocks in the affected communities should be dismantled and local markets in the areas reopened. They also called for the release of all victims who were kidnapped during the hostilities. They urged the government to provide relief materials and ensure the return of all displaced people to their ancestral homes. Losses Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups of Southern Taraba have been at daggers drawn for some time now. Seve...