Taraba Facts

Governor Darius lshaku of Taraba state has urged people of the state to forgive one another and be more tolerant.  The call was contained his 2020 New Year message to people of the state in which he called on the citizen to eschew bitterness.  Darius made the call through his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mr. Bala Danabu. He said in 2019 the state had faced serious security challenges but however expressed delight over efforts made by security agents in addressing insecurity in the state. He said people should forget their differences and work collectively to promote peace and unity to move the state forward. He said the state need development and therefore assured the people of his commitment in providing basic needs to the citizens.  Darius said there is going to be more developmental projects in his second year of his rescue mission in the state. He said the prevailing peace being enjoy in the state came through the collective efforts of...

The Presiding Judge of the National Industrial Court, Jos Judicial Division, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Kenneth Amadi has dismissed that case filed by ALHAJI GARBA UMAR on his claim for entitlements as acting Governor in November 2014 against TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT for lacking merit and nullified Taraba State Governor and Deputy Governor’s pension law, 2015. The Court held that State House of Assembly in Nigeria lacks the power to fix any amount in remuneration to its past Governors and Deputy governors as pension or gratuity unless the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission first of all determined an amount as pension and gratuity to past Governors and Deputy governors in which case such amount, so fixed, shall not exceed the amount as have been determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. From facts, following the purported impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Taraba state; Alhaji. Sani Abubakar Danladi, the Claimant ...

Three legislators have repaired 303 broken down boreholes in Bali and  Gassol Federal constituency of Taraba state. The lawmakers are Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, representing Taraba Central; Hon Mubarak Gambo, member representing Gassol and Bali federal constituency and Suleiman Abbas, member representing Gassol constituency in the state Assembly.  Speaking shortly after inspecting one of the repaired boreholes at Garin Abba in Gassol local government, Alhaji Mubarak Gambo said the three of them contributed money to repair the boreholes due to pressing needs of clean drinking water in the area.  He said as representatives of the people, they owned a duty to respond to the needs of those that elected them. Gambo explained that communities in Gassol and Bali federal constituency are faced with acute shortage of clean drinking water following non-functioning of boreholes. He said they had to contribute money to repair the boreholes located at different part...

The Taraba State Police Command says a total of 129 culpable homicide cases were recorded in various parts of the state in the year 2019. According to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Alkasim Sanusi, the figure is among the over 480 suspects arrested by the command during the period. “I’m glad to announce to you that 486 suspects were arrested and prosecuted for various crimes,” he said. The police commissioner made the disclosure on Saturday at an event organised by the state government to appreciate security operatives in Taraba for a job well-done in the year. It was also a pre-retirement lecture in honour of Sanusi who is due to bow out of service on December 31, 2019, after putting up 35 years in the public service. Giving a breakdown of the figure, the police commissioner explained that 67 suspected kidnappers were arrested, and 54 armed robbery suspects apprehended among others. On his part, the state deputy governor who represent...

The appointment of a widow, Mrs. Bridget Twar, as commissioner in Taraba State, has excited the Tiv ethnic group in the northeastern state, writes Fanen Ihyongo, who is in Jalingo, the state capital. When Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State announced his new cabinet and the name of Bridget Twar, a widow of Tiv extraction surfaced on the list of commissioners that will work with him, the Tiv ethnic group erupted in joy as they celebrated what they describe as yet another confirmation of the indigene-status of the Tivs in the state contrary to claims in some quarters. The celebration, our reporter learnt, was also compounded by the personality of the new commissioner. Speaking on the development and the reaction of the Tivs across the state, a source explained that the significance of the appointment is in the fact that it is coming soon after the Tiv and Jukun people fought over claims by the Jukuns that Tiv are “settlers,” not indigenes in Taraba State. “The appointment conf...

The senator representing Taraba southern senatorial district, senator Emmanuel Bwacha has distributed 34 cars to traditional rulers in southern Taraba. The vehicles were distributed during a ceremony in Wukari which was attended by the royal fathers.  Senator Bwacha said he provided the vehicles to royal fathers for his respect and recognition of traditional institutions.  He commended the royal fathers for the role they are playing in promoting peace and unity among their subjects in their respective domains.  Meanwhile the senior special assistant on Media and publicity to Governor Darius,Mr Bala Danabu has denied reports in the social media that Governor Darius had instructed the royal fathers not to collect the cars provided to them by senator Bwacha.  Bala Danabu said such story was fake and Governor Darius has never gave instructions to royal fathers not collect the cars. DAILY TRUST

A Jalingo-based human rights activist, Barrister Bilyamunu Maihanci, has appealed to Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku to pay WAEC and NECO examination fees for Taraba students. He made the appeal during an interview with North East Trust in Jalingo.   He said many students in their final year in secondary schools were unable to pay for WAEC and NECO examinations because of hard economic situation.   According to him such students may end up not being able to proceed to higher institutions. “In the spirit of Christmas Governor Darius should  make WAEC and NECO examination free in the state. This will enable all students to sit for their examinations and that  will drastically reduce crime rate among youths in the state,” Barrister Bilyamunu said.  He commended the governor’s effort in restoring lasting peace in the state and urged him to lift the curfew placed on Jalingo metropolis since peace and normalcy has returned to the metr...

Governor  Darius Ishaku of Taraba has called for peaceful coexistence among  Christians in Taraba and Nigeria as they celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ on Wednesday. In a statement issued in Jalingo and signed  by Mr Bala Dan-Abu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ishaku praised the people of Taraba and security operatives deployed to the state, for working very hard to achieve peace. Ishaku  reminded Christians to always remember the reason for the birth of Jesus Christ which is the remission of sins, and learn to tolerate and forgive one another. “It is my hope that the love we share and expressed at Christmas through exchange of food, drinks and other forms of gifts on this unique occasion, will reinforce peace, unity and trust among the people in the state. “I want to urge the people of Taraba  State to support government’s efforts toward building bridges of understanding across the various d...

The Nigeria Defense Headquarters (DHQ), on Friday announced the winding down of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS). OPWS, launched on May 2018, with a mandate to end the herders/farmers crisis, covers Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states. The troops were also tasked to flush out all armed militia gangs terrorising parts of Benue and Taraba. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, told newsmen in Gbise, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, that the DHQ was not planning to immediately shot down the operation. He said that even though OPWS had achieved its set mandate, the proposed winding-up would be in phases. “It is not an out right shutdown of the operation, so it is not as if we are going to pack our bags and vacate the operational arena. That is not going to happen. So, we don’t want anybody in Benue and Taraba States to panic unnecessarily”, NAN quoted him as saying. “What is actually going to happen is that we have a mi...

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku on Thursday presented the 2020 budget estimates of N213.63billion which he tagged “Budget of Accelerated Growth and Development” to the Taraba State House of Assembly for consideration. Presenting the budget at the Taraba State House of Assembly Complex in the state capital, Jalingo the Governor said the budget estimates was to consolidate on his progress in the past years. Governor Ishaku while presenting the budget expressed gratitude to the legislators for their continued support and urged them to consider and pass the budget speedily in other for him to be able to deliver the intent of the budget to Tarabans. The governor on his part promised to always exercise his constitutional role in making sure the functions of the legislators are carried out as expected. The Speaker, Taraba state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Albasu Joseph Kunini appreciated the Governor for coming to present the 2020 budget within the constitutionally given time....

Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku has implored corps members serving in the state to utilize the entrepreneurial skills acquired during their three weeks orientation course to grow the state’s economy. Ishaku who spoke Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the Batch C stream 2 orientation course of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, advised them to be employers of labour. Represented by the state’s Head of Service, Suzzy Nathan,  governor Ishaku also assured of their safety. He further urged them to go about their lawful duties without fear and be good ambassadors of the NYSC. According to him,” the orientation course content was tailored to prepare you for the challenges of leadership not only at your places of primary assignments, but throughout your life. “I urge you to maximize the skills you have so acquired in order to be employers of labour, thereby boosting our economy.” In her address, the state NYSC coordinator, Florence Yaakugh disclosed tha...

Although it began as a minor internal misgiving with Taraba State House of Assembly, which led to the exit of Speaker Abel Peter Diah and Deputy, Charles Maijankai, the rumble is gradually igniting political Tsunami that could swallow Governor Darius Ishaku. Signs that the quagmire, which pitted House of Assembly and the executive arm, might get even rockier next year emerged recently as some of the lawmakers have started perfecting plans for an eventual removal the governor, Ishaku, from office by impeachment. As at the time of filing in this report, eight out of the 22-member House of Assembly have allegedly relocated to Abuja to perfect the impeachment plots. Investigation by The Guardian reveals that the move against Ishaku is being empowered by one of the political top shots from the state that fell apart with the governor. Armed with various forms of documents, the members are said to have gone as far as drawing the attention of the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFC...

A lunatic person has killed a five year old boy and an elderly person at Tella town  in Gassol local government area of Taraba state. An eye witness, Musa Waziri, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred at Jiddawo area of Tella when the mad man attacked the Five year old boy with Knife in Friday.   It was further gathered that the mad man after attacking the little boy also attacked an elderly man  with the same knife and the elderly man died instantly. The boy died at Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo where he was rushed  a day after he was admitted for the wounds inflicted on his stomach by the mad man. The eye witness told Daily Trust that mad man who has been in the town for many years was lynched by angary Youths in the community. Police spoke person in the state DSP David Misal could not be reached for comment as his line was switched off when our reporter called him. The chairman, Gassol local government council, Yahuza Yau when contacted ...

Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku, has expressed concern over unethical activities of some social media users which he believes is a threat to the nation’s democracy. Speaking at the swearing in of 12 permanent secretaries, Governor Ishaku distanced the executive arm of government from the internal crisis in the state House of assembly. He said that though there was provision for freedom of speech in the nation’s constitution such rights should not to be abused on social media. Taraba recently trended on social media with reports that the governor’s wife was involved in the recent crisis in the state Assembly. Governor Ishaku and PDP state chairman were accused being co-conspirators who fueled the crisis. The Governor has since come out to deny this, insisting that what happened in the House of Assembly was purely a legislative matter which the executive arm of government played no part in. He is not comfortable with what he describes as blackmail on...

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state has rejected the ranching scheme initiated by the federal government. The governor has stated unequivocally, that Taraba will not key into any programme that would be carried out by the federal government for herdsmen. He said already, he has amicably tackled the clashes between herdsmen and farmersù in the state, through the instrumentality of a law prohibiting open grazing. He said he had noticed that the farmers/herders crisis, which was often bloody, was because of three things: cows, grasses and farm-crops. So, he tackled the menace by enacting a law called ‘Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.’ The law, he said, admits ranching but prohibits open grazing and cattle rustling. “What this means is that herders now have to restrict the movement of their cattle so that they don’t stray into farms and munch on crops. It had been practiced in Gembu, Sardauna and it is been replicated in other councils,” he said. ...

Women took to the streets of Jalingo, Taraba State yesterday to protest against violence on women and girls, especially victims of rape and all forms of sexual assault in the state. Insisting that the law and authorities have failed to protect women from sexual assaults and other related violence, the protesters said they decided to expose the crime by speaking up on what they described as a crime against humanity. “We will no longer keep silent in the face of violence by taking the bull by the horn in coming out en-mass to speak for the voiceless among us,” they said. The women, who were led by the Taraba First Lady, Ann Ishaku, stressed the need for all relevant authorities to intervene by putting an end to gender-based violence, stressing that the need to speak up against sexual abuses could no longer be overstretched. The protesting women, who left their local government areas to converge on Jalingo, frowned at the incessant violence against women and girls i...