Taraba Facts

The corpses, all males were suspected to be part of the ten passengers abducted by kidnappers along Wukari-Jalingo road last Month.  Daily Trust gathered that the victims were travelling to Jalingo from Wukari when they were abducted at Bantaji and taken into the forest. It was further gathered that since the abduction of the travellers including their driver, no information was heard about their whereabouts. A source in Bantaje, Malam Musa Hamisu told Daily Trust that it was a vigilante group which went in search of the victims that found four dead bodies including that of the driver.  The driver identified as Adamu Wukari was buried by his family on Wednesday while the three other corpses are still in the forest. The police public relation officer Taraba state command,DSP David Misal said the police have not received information of the discovery of the corpses. DAILY TRUST 

Living on the mountains for more than 100 years, the Mumuye community of Kopozang in Yorro Local government area of Taraba State  remains among those communities that want to jealously protect their heritage. They have been residing on top of a mountain with an elevation of close to 1200 meters above sea level although their chief resides at the foot of the hills having descended more than 100 years ago. For North-East Trust, the journey was tortuous but rewarding. It begun with about a two-hour ride on a motorcycle to the foot of Kopozang mountains at Kunzang, which is now a big settlement where our reporter met their traditional chief, Kpanti Kunzang.  The Kpanti Kunzang, Mr Cletus Kosin, told North-East Trust that his forefathers had lived on the top of the mountain for centuries, although many of his people have come down.  On the instruction of the chief, our reporter begun another journey to the top of the hill under the guidance of the chief’s ...

Residents of Taraba state Thursday told absent Governor Darius Ishaku to as a matter of urgency return to the state or resign. Some residents of the state, who spoke with Blueprint, lamented that Governor Ishaku’s prolong absence from the state is unacceptable and harmful for the state. A resident of Angwan-Gadi, Mallam Abanunu Jalingo, expressed worried that if the governor is not medically fit to return to Taraba he should humbly relinquished power to his deputy. “We have seen him on social media attending functions in Abuja, if he is fit to attend functions and go round in Abuja, what stops him from coming down to the state” he said. He maintained that it is quite unfortunate that a governor of state would live his state for over two months and go and sit down in Abuja on account of health issue. He explained that governor Ishaku’s absent has a negative impact on the state economy. Also, the Taraba Social Accountability Group (TSAG) accused the leadershi...

The Taraba Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday organised a meeting between crop farmers and herders to engender peaceful co-existence in the state. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. David Kassa in Jalingo said that the workshop was necessary to breed mutual coexistence among the two indispensable actors in agricultural production. Kassa said that the peaceful coexistence among the two would create an enabling environment for accelerated food production in the state in particular and the nation at large. He said that the state had invested many funds into food production, noting that peace was paramount in achieving the goal of food security in the state. “Taraba as one of the major key players in food production in the country found it quite expedient to enlighten crop farmers and herders on mutual coexistence. “It is necessary to ensure the security and safety of our people to achieve food production and food security which is...

The House of Representatives has commended President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) for kick-starting the 3,050 megawatts (MW) Mambilla Hydropower Plant over four decades after it was conceived. The chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon Magaji  Da’u Aliyu, made the commendation during the committee’s oversight visit to the Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja after a Right of Way report from the chairman, Mambilla Power Project Implementation Committee and  director, Renewable Energy & Rural Power Access in the ministry, Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo that the land for the project had just been acquired. The lawmaker noted that the over 40-year-old Mambilla Hydro-Power project had existed only on paper, adding that there was nothing on ground to show that the project had commenced before the coming of this administration. He said, “I wish to sincerely thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the minister of Power for achieving this feat. There was never anything like Mamb...

  The Commissioner of Police in Taraba, Mohammed Azare, has urged residents of the state to strengthen the concept of community policing in their respective areas through effective collaborations and partnerships. Inspector General of Police  According to a press statement by the Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr David Misal, he made the call at a closed-door meeting with House of Representatives members and government officials. Others present included community leaders, vigilante groups, local hunters, and leadership of Fulani herdsmen from the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. Azare explained that this was aimed at bringing under constant checks and ensure that all perpetrators of crimes, particularly kidnapping were reduced to the minimum. He stressed that all hands must be on deck to check the menace of kidnapping and other violent crimes, noting that the work of security should not be left in the hands of security agencies alone. The pol...

THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME COMMISSION (EFCC), INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICE COMMISSION (ICPC). NIGERIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT (NFIU), NATIONAL UNION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE (NULGE) PLEASE COME TO THE RESCUE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN TARABA STATE FROM THE CORRUPT AND GLUTTONOUS POSTURES OF GOVERNOR DARIUS DICKSON ISHIAKU . For the past five years, the Local Governments in Taraba state have become insolvent. None of the Local Governments have executed a single project worthy of mention their salaries and allowances are erratic. Some staff of the Local Governments have not been paid for some months. The state Bureau for Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs determines who to pay and who not to pay and withhold Local Government funds at it's whims and Caprices. As if the above is not enough, GOVERNOR DARIUS DICKSON ISHIAKU recently summoned Head of Local Governments Administration (HOLGA) and Directors of Finance of the various Local Governments ...

The Taraba State House of Assembly on Monday passed a Vote of Confidence on Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, for the good work his administration is doing in the State. The House at the resumption of plenary considered a motion brought before the House under matter of urgent public importance by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr. Joseph Albasu Kunini and 11 others. In a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hamman’ Adama Abdullahi and supported by other members of the House present at the plenary, the House unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on the Governor and his Deputy Engr. Haruna Manu for the services they have been rendering to the people of the State. The resolution of the House reads; “This Honourable House hereby debunks any alleged claim of non performance due to the absence of the Governor from Jalingo the State capital as the record of performance are there for all to see.” “That this Honourable House will refuse to be used by any unpatriotic person or group...

The extension of the tenure of some Permanent Secretaries by Governor Darius Ishaku is now generating ripples in Taraba state.  Civil servants have kicked against the strange extension of retiring permanent secretaries’ tenure. Some top civil servants in the state who spoke to Blueprint on the extension said it was a violation of the civil service rules. They lamented that governor Ishaku has set bad precedent that would affect civil service in the nearer future. “Governor Ishaku should stop extending the tenure of permanent secretaries who has put in their years in civil service. “Why is the governor extending the tenure of permanent secretaries who are due for retirement. “We have some civil servants who currently are on level 17. Why not exit those who are due for retirement and promote those who would want to be a permanent secretary for just a day,” some of the civil servants who pleaded anonimity said. Also, a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ...

The National Boundary Commission has begun a sensitization exercise within boundary communities of Taraba and Benue states. The Commission is seeking the cooperation of the boundary communities of the two states ahead of a demarcation exercise in March and April, aimed at ending the Tiv/Jukun crises. TVC News Correspondent , Owolabi Adenusi, reports that the unending land disputes between the Jukun and Tiv natives has caused pains on both sides in over 15 communities. The Federal government, in taking the bull by the horns, is now working in synergy with the two states, to achieve a thorough demarcation and readjustment of borders in order to resolve the Jukun/Tiv face off, once and for all. The Director of the National Boundary Commission, who was represented by Dr Richard Oji, sought the cooperation of both sides, to ensure a successful exercise. He acknowledged the efforts of the Governors of Taraba and Benue states, in putting up recommendations aimed at resolving th...

The Deputy Governor delivering his speech at the event. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Taraba state, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, ably represented by his Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Taraba state Engr. Haruna Manu officially flagged-off the issuance of employment letters to those employed by the Taraba state civil service commission as a result of his Excellency’s gracious approval. Governor Ishaku deemed the employment exercise as not only timely but imperative in view of his magnanimity to direct for the recruitment of over 300 young officers into the civil service to fill in the existing vacancies in some selected MDAs that require attention for effective service delivery to the state. In attendance were the Honorable commissioner of Taraba state Civil Service Commission, Hon. John Mamman; the Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Suzana J.M; Members of the Taraba state House of Assembly, Honorable Commissioners,vPermanent Secretaries and other top government ...

In the past couple of weeks, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Taraba State, had orchestrated a campaign of hate and acrimony against the person and the administration of His Excellency, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, Executive Governor of Taraba State, taking advantage of the Governor’s prolonged stay in Abuja which was necessitated by an unfortunate domestic accident he had earlier suffered. As a result, His Excellency has had to stay back in Abuja to receive medical attention. But rather than show sympathy for the Governor, APC leaders have taken advantage of this unfortunate development to invent and promote all kinds of inanities and outright falsehood against him. Some of them have even gone to the ridiculously extent of suggesting that by staying behind in Abuja for medical attention, Governor Ishaku should be impeached. This is proof of how callous APC leaders in the state can be and the extent they can go in their quest for political power. We urge the good peopl...

● The Governor has vindicated TARABA FACTS. The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said he has been staying in Abuja because of an “unfortunate domestic accident” he suffered and had to receive medical attention. The Senior Special Assistant to the Taraba Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Bala Abu, in a statement on Thursday also accused the All Progressives Congress in Taraba State of having allegedly orchestrated a campaign of hate and acrimony against the  governor. Abu said, “In the past couple of weeks, the All Progressives Congress in Taraba State, had orchestrated a campaign of hate and acrimony against the person and the administration of Darius Ishaku, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, taking advantage of the governor’s prolonged stay in Abuja, which was necessitated by an unfortunate domestic accident he had earlier suffered. As a result, His Excellency has had to stay back in Abuja to receive medical attention. “But rather than show sympathy...

The Executive Governor, Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku has approved the appointment of Dr. Danjuma Garba as the new Director-General of the Taraba state AIDS Control Agency (TACA). This was contained in a Press Release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hassan Mijinyawa and dated 20/02/2020. Dr. Danjuma Garba who is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, holds an MBBS Degree from the University of Maiduguri and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Leeds, London. He has worked with World Bank – Financial Projects for over fifteen (15) years and was the Project Manager of the Taraba state HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project II as well as the Director HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support of TACA. Dr. Garba possesses wealth of experience in implementing healthcare projects in Nigeria and was the pioneer State Coordinator of the Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP) and was also the northeast coordinator of Nigeria ...

- Signs 2020 budget in FCT It is an impeachable offence – PDP   Government activities in Taraba are suffering, following the prolonged absence of the governor, Darius Ishaku, from the state.  The governor, our correspondent, gathered has been away from the state for about two months. His last official outing was on December 19, 2019, when he presented the 2020 budget to the state House of Assembly. Shortly after the presentation, it was learnt that on December 22, 2019, the governor left Jalingo, the state capital and has since not returned.   The governor did not hand over to his deputy, Alhaji Haruna Manu. He also did not transmit a letter to the state Assembly intimating the lawmakers of his absence. Our findings revealed that between December 19, 2019 and now, only two State Executive Council meetings have held.  Also, no new project is ongoing in Jalingo, even as officials of state claim that many contracts were awarded in the ab...