Taraba Facts

Taraba State, Governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku on Monday approved tax relief measures to ease the effects of COVID-19 on citizens and businesses in the State. Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Jesse Ashumate announced the measures at a press conference in Jalingo. Ashumate said the Taraba State government was conscious of the threat of COVID-19 on businesses, organisations and individuals and approved the measures to cushion the effects of the pandemic. According to him, the measures include; extension of timeline for filing withholding tax return from 21st day to the last working day of the month following the month of deduction. “50 percent reduction on personal income tax (PIT) of informal sector taxpayers made before 31st December, 2020. “Use of electronic platforms for payment of taxes and processing of tax clearance certificate as well as automatic discharge of vehicles update arrears beyond one year of expiration ending 31st December, 2020. “Automatic waiver of 50 percent arrears volume...

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has  said that despite series of dialogues and reconciliation efforts to address the Tiv/Jukun crisis, it keeps reoccurring. He spoke on Friday while inaugurating a seven-man commission of inquiry into the lingering crisis. Bandits exploit Tiv/Jukun crisis to harm Taraba, Darius says Tiv-Jukun crises: Benue, Taraba sign peace accord Ishaku stated that it was yet another attempt by his administration to address the issue permanently that he inaugurated the commission of inquiry into the crisis.  He expressed concern over recent happenings which put the state in bad news of violent conflicts. Ishaku lamented that despite the numerous developmental projects his administration had executed, it was the negative news of communal conflicts that emerge from the state all the time. He said his administration had repositioned the agricultural sector but the crisis had prevented  many farmers from going to farm.  “Several attempts by both ...

Taraba State Polytechnic: Gov. Ishaku Approves the Composition of Visitation Panel The Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has approved the composition of the visitation panel for the Taraba State Polytechnic. This was contained in a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hassan Mijinyawa, MCIPR. It states that the panel has the deputy vice chancellor administration of the Taraba State University, Prof. Nicholas O. Namessan as chairman and the permanent secretary career management office, Mr. Umar Abdul as secretary. Other members of the panel are; Dr. Muhammad Sukare, retired Permanent Secretary. Yakubu Bulus – Retired Accountant Engr. Tanko Kitere – Permanent Secretary Min of Works Mr. Iranius Polycarp – State Auditor General Christopher Gani – Ministry of Justice. It states that the panel which has four (4) weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report, will be inaugurated by the state Deputy Governor, Engr. Haruna Manu on Monday, 2...

There was pandemonium at Sabongida village of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State following the killing of a Tiv woman by gunmen.  The woman, identified as Madam Gbawaruum, was killed in her restaurant at about 7 pm which resulted in the pandemonium.  Gunmen kill 6, abduct 7 in Taraba Gunmen abduct former Taraba’s Chief of staff It was gathered that the gunmen, about four in number, entered the restaurant located along Jalingo-Wukari road and one of them shot the woman seven times on her chest. The woman, it was learnt, died instantly while the gunmen left the restaurant. A resident, Malam Yakubu Sule, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the gunmen also went to a nearby village and robbed some people at a drinking joint. He said the killing of the popular food seller had heightened tension in the town as residents went indoors for fear of more attacks.   Sabongida village, it was gathered, came under attack by suspected kidnappers few months ago a...

Former senator, representing Taraba North in the National Assembly, Senator Zik Sunday has regained his freedom. Sunday was released from his abductors in the early hours of Thursday in Awai, Nasarawa State at about 1:20 am, a source revealed. The source, an immediate relative to the ex-Senator who pleaded anonymity said, N20m was paid as ransom the abductors before his release. Recalled that the police public relations officer, Taraba Command, DSP David Misal, confirmed the kidnapping of Sen. Zik Sunday on Monday 6 July 2020 while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Jalingo. However, the 75 years old former Senator Zik Sunday is confirmed to be in good health and has been reunited with his family. Meanwhile, the PPRO, DSP David Misal is yet to reply to a message sent to him regarding the release of the former Senator, at the time of filing this report. BLUE PRINT REPORT

  Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase Statement from Hon. Aminu Malle, former Memeber of the House Reps and Chief of Staff to Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives  Alhamdulillah. Slowly but surely by the grace of God we will get there some day. The bill for the establishment of FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE JALINGO has once again scaled through its third reading at the green chamber of our Parliament.  For clarity to those who do not understand the parliamentary procedure of making a Bill in to law, I ll like to first of all explain. One of the most important functions of Parliament is LAW MAKING. Parliament exercise their power to make laws through BILLS. Bill, as relates to law making, is “a draft of a PROPOSED law PRESENTED to parliament for DISCUSSION”. Section 58(1) of the constitution says ; “The power of the National Assembly to make laws shall be exercised by bills passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives ...

...Sen. Zik Sunday yet to regain freedom. The Taraba State Police Command’s Imam, Mustapha Nuhu and Ikilima Auwal, the pregnant woman, who were abducted last week in Jalingo and Lau town in Lau local government area of Taraba state have regained their freedom. Daily Trust gathered that ransom was paid by the families of the two victims. They were both released on Sunday night shortly after the ransom was paid by the family members as demanded by the kidnappers. Daily Trust finding revealed also that a former senator, Zik Sunday, two businessmen, and two motorcyclists abducted last week in Karim-Lamido and Gassol local government areas are yet to regain their freedom. The abductors of the former senator are demanding N50m ransom and negotiation was said to be on while the whereabouts of the two businessmen and motorcyclists are not known. The spokesperson of Taraba Police Command DSP, David Misal, confirmed the release of the command’s mosque Imam.

The Federal Government is awaiting the comprehensive list of those who own the land where the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydropower Plant is located to commence the payment of compensation. It was gathered in Abuja on Monday that while the Federal Government had made payments for survey works and sensitisation of the affected communities, it had yet to make progress on the project due to the non-payment of compensation. Officials at the Abuja headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power told our correspondent that the Taraba State Government had yet to send the list of beneficiaries to be compensated several months after the request was made by the Federal Government. The PUNCH had on March 11 exclusively reported that the Federal Government released N700m to carry out survey works on the project site for the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydropower Plant in Taraba State. The Federal Ministry of Power said the N700m, which was released to the Taraba State Go...

Kidnapped former Senator, representing Taraba North, Zik Ambonu Sunday, has cried out from his abductors’ den, calling on Governor Darius Ishaku to pay the fifty million naira ransom being demanded so that he could regain his freedom. The ex-senator was kidnapped in his Bachama village, Karim-Lamido local government area of Taraba at about 1.30 am last Saturday, according to police spokesman, David Misal. Zik Ambonu Sunday was senator from 2003 to 2007. The abductee has also called on the federal House of Representatives member from Karim–Lamido/Ardo-Kola, Danladi Baido, to assist in making up the ransom cash. His abductors had initially demanded N100 million as ransom. But a few minutes ago -after spending a week with him, they reduced the ransom cash to N50 million, after series of negotiations. An audio record of the kidnappers’ threats has been played by our source who pleaded anonymity. The former senator was heard speaking with trembling voice. “Please help; please...

Two members of vigilante group lost their lives during a gun battle with persons suspected to be kidnappers in a thick forest of Mutumbiyu area of Gassol local government area of Taraba state.  Four other members of the vigilante sustained gun shot wounds during the battle.  The dead victims were identified as Gambo Suleiman Gurowa and Ibrahim Usman Makurna. Daily Trust gathered that the vigilante went into the forest at Kintau, between Gunduma and Gurowa to rescue one Mary Maituwo who was abducted in Mutumbiyu town and taken to the forest by the kidnappers.  The vigilante who rode on motorcycles were said have sighted Mary chained under big tree at the foot of a mountain in Kintau Forrest. Unknown to the vigilante, a member of the kidnapping gang had seen them preparing the rescue plan and had passed the information to his gang members. The kidnappers chained Mary Maituwo on the foot of the mountain as trap as they went up the mountain and waited for the vig...

The Taraba state governor Darius Ishaku on Friday urged journalists in the state to compliment government’s efforts and  work towards achieving lasting peace in the state through objective and professional reportage and promotion of stories that foster peace rather than inciting the public. Mr Bala Dan Abu, the SSA media to the governor made the call on Friday when the leadership of the correspondent’s Chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ in the state led by Alhaji Sadiq Adamu paid the governor’s media team a courtesy call at the government House Jalingo. Abu who noted that the journalists are a very critical stakeholder towards the achievement of government objectives said that efforts by the state government would not be fruitful if the media does not key in and avoid inciting and sensational reportage. He congratulated the new leadership and and express confidence that the caliber of members that now constitute the leadership was capable of d...

Taraba NLC Chairman Did Not Die of Covid-19 – Committee Chairman Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai cleared the air on the news making rounds regarding the cause of death of late Comrade Peter Gambo. The Taraba state Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Covid-19 Committee, Dr. Innocent Vakkai has confirmed the death of state Chairman Nigerian of Labour Congress (NLC), comrade Peter Gambo of some health issues that are confidential. He stated this to newsmen in Jalingo, the state capital and debunked the earlier speculations that the NLC Chairman died of Covid-19 was not true. The Commissioner noted that the NLC Chairman was not admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo as earlier reported,​ rather he was admitted at the State Specialist Hospital. He said that the late Gambo had been on admission at the Specialist Hospital Jalingo and​ was tested for COVID-19 but his result came out as negative. He disclosed that of the two active ...

The Taraba state Commissioner of budget and planning , Solomon Elisha has said the state government will review the 2020 budget by 25 to 30% in tune with the current economic realities occasioned by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Elisha disclosed this in an interview with Journalists on Wednesday in Jalingo. He explained that the ministry had finished the middle tearm expenditure framework MTEF, and handed it over to the state executive council for deliberations and approval towards sending it to the Taraba state house of assembly for deliberations and passage into law. “Ministry has just finished the medium term expenditure framework MTEF, in preparation to the presentation of the reviewed of the 2020 approved budget. We just finished and it was handed over to the exco secretariat for deliberations and approval towards sending it to the house of assembly for passage into law to enable us review the 2020 budget. “My ministry have been working tirelessly making sure that we ...

Peter Gambo, Taraba State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, is dead. SAHARA REPORTERS REPORT Gambo died in the early hours of Wednesday at the state’s Specialist Hospital, Jalingo. Until his demise, he was serving his second tenure in office as the Chairman of the NLC.  He was also the General Overseer of the Jesus Glorious Army International Church, Taraba State – a position he took over after a car crash that claimed the life of the previous General Overseer. SaharaReporters gathered that Gambo, who was isolated early this month at the Taraba State Specialist Isolation Centre, Jalingo, died on Tuesday morning of COVID-19 at the hospital.

A former senator representing northern Taraba, Ambuno Zik-Sunday and the cleric of the State Police Command Mosque, Mohammed Nuhu, have been kidnapped. The Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Tuesday, while parading a cache of arms recovered from suspected bandits who are currently at large. The former senator was abducted in his hometown Bavhama Community in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, while the police cleric was kidnapped in his house in Jalingo, the state capital. Details later.

In his quest to ensure lasting peace in the state, the Taraba State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, today set up a commission of inquiry into the crises between Tiv and their neighbouring communities within the state. This was disclosed by the SA New Media to the Executive Governor of Taraba state, Osborne Adi Jnr. The governor, while unveiling the commission, said he was worried by the unnecessary outbreak of violence in the state and therefore,was poised to bring an end to it. Citing the powers vested on him by Section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry Law,Cap.34 Laws of Taraba State,1997, the Governor charged the members to examine the remote and immediate causes of the crises between the Tivs and people living in communities of Wukari,Takum, Donga, Ibi, Ussa, Gassol and Bali Local Government Areas or any other part of the state since 1991 to date. They were also urged to examine and identify cases of banditry, kidnapping and other vices related to or arising from wit...

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided by Justice Binta Muritala- Nyako  had admitted six AK47 rifles as evidence against Hamisu Bala also Known as Wadume and 6th others on charges of alleged terrorism and kidnapping. At the resumed trial the prosecution called it 6th witness, one Inspector Habila Samuel, a police officer attached with the Intelligence ResponseTeam, Force Headquarters. The witness gave his findings from the investigation of what transpired in Ibi, Taraba State on August 6th, 2019 when soldiers allegedly shot at the police vehicle conveying the arrested Wadume, killing three operatives and two civilians. 6 AK47 rifles were recovered from the defendants during the cause of the. investigation. The prosecuting counsel tendered the guns as evidence, which was admitted by the court. TVC News 

Police operatives attached to the Taraba State Command at the weekend recovered 10 AK47 serviceable rifles, 13 AK47 magazines, 424 live 7.62mm AK47 short ammunition and one G3 live ammunition abandoned by fleeing criminals. The firearms were said to have been inside box-like load on a motorcycle with two suspected Fulani men who were seen crossing River Benue from Karim Lamido Local Government Area (LGA). It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Lau Division received a tip-off at about 8pm on July 10 about two strange Fulani men on motorcycle crossing the river with box-like load. Sources told our Correspondent that the DPO mobilised his men and as soon as the suspects saw the police, they took off. “They were on a Honda motorcycle with registration number GAS527WU. They were pursued by the police but they fled, when they couldn’t run with the load, they abandoned the motorcycle and when it was searched, all those arms and ammunition were found...

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of “Operation Whirl Stroke”, on Friday, eliminated two notorious bandits who had been attacking communities in Benue and Taraba. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Saturday, said the success was a result of the troops’ aggressive aggressive clearance operations in the states. Enenche said the operation was sequel to actionable intelligence on the infiltration of armed herdsmen on July 10 at Chambe community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue where two villagers were killed. He said the troops, swiftly deployed to the scene, adding that the bandits had fled the area before their arrival. According to him, troops tracked the assailants to a makeshift camp at the outskirt of Arufu in neighbouring  Taraba. “On sighting the troops, the armed bandits opened fire, troops overwhelmed the criminals with high intensity fire, killing two of them while others fled in disa...

General Theophilus Danjuma has refuted reports circulated by Olusegun Adeniyi, chairman of ThisDay editorial board that they had an issue with the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, leading to his arrest and suspension. Former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar had also denied involvement in Magu’s travails. Magu was said to have raided the home of Gen Abubakar and froze the accounts of Gen TY Danjuma without the knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, both retired Generals said they don’t have anything to do with the travails of Magu, who has been suspended as EFCC chairman and is currently under detention. Adeniyi quoted Daisy Danjuma, Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of May & Baker Nigeria, as saying that although they recently purchased a plane to replace the old one, there was no issue with the EFCC over the Cheque, which she said she signed. She said her husba...

The Taraba State government has confirmed the result released by the National Center for Disease Control NCDC on two new active cases of COVID-19 in the state. The commissioner for health, Dr. Innocent Vakai, who is also chairman Taraba state technical committee on COVID-19 also announced the cases on Tuesday to journalists in Jalingo. Vakai said the two patients have already been quarantined at the isolation centers of the federal medical center (FMC) and the specialist hospital Jalingo. Vakai while emphasising the Taraba state government’s readiness to ensure safety of the citizens from the pandemic, the commissioner quoted the technical committee as blaming the citizens for not adhering to the safety measures on COVID-19. NEWS:  They want to put chips in us, mark of the beast - Kanye West on COVID-19 vaccine According to him, the technical committee observed that public activities of over (20) persons like, football matches and wedding ceremonies were being held in...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Office, has arraigned Jedua Ahmed Dawud, Oliver Wubon and Joseph Danladi John, over alleged conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and forgery. DAILY POST learnt the trio were made to appear before Justice F. Agya of Taraba State High Court. It was gathered the offences run contrary to Sections 96, 315 and 366 of the Penal Code of Taraba State and punishable under Section 315 of the same law. He added, “The first defendant, Jedua Ahmed Dawud is currently, a serving member of Taraba State House of Assembly, representing Sardauna Local Government Area of the state, while the second and third defendant, Oliver Wubon and Joseph Danladi John are current Chairmen of Sardauna and Kurmi local government areas, respectively. “They were alleged to have stolen from the coffers of Sardauna Local Government Area, a total of N104, 200.000 (One Hundred and Four Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira), being funds meant for cap...

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and bloodshed by warring groups in the state. He promised that his administration would continue to give priority to the local government administration in view of its proximity and ability to engender development to the masses. “Government is more than ever before unwavering in finding amicable and acceptable resolution of all the grievances. “Whatever demands that can never be achieved on the table of negotiations can never be gotten through swords,” he said. He added, “It is in line with my desire to make local government councils more effective that I sent an executive bill to the State House of Assembly for the extension of their two years tenure to three years. “My move is to enable the council chairmen to settle down properly in order to maximise the human and natural resources of their areas for the benefit of the people,” he said. Governor Ishaku also appealed to resident...

The department of State Service, Taraba state command on Friday paraded forty five (45) years old Ishaya Adamu (Jonathan) for parading himself as an Assistant Director in the Service and defrauding the public. The state Director of the Service Bashir Abubakar who was represented at a briefing in Jalingo disclosed that the said Adamu was arrested at an hotel in Jalingo where he has been hibernating with his wife that he purportedly married with deceit have also defrauded. Abubakar said that the suspect, who hails from Lafia Lamurde local government area of Adamawa state,  was only released from prison last December after serving a three year term for the same offence and has continued parading himself and defrauding people in Gombe, Yola and Jalingo under the pretext that he was a very senior staff of the Service. “The suspect has been parading and defrauding people in Gombe, Yola and Jalingo, claiming that ha is a very senior staff of the Department of State Services. ...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday swore in the new Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara, and 36 other members of the commission. The president also swore in six Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), including Gboyega Oladele, from Osun. The 36 members of the FCC included Henry Ogbulogo (Abia), Salihu Bello (Adamawa), Dorah Daniel (Akwa-Ibom), Ibeabuchi Uche, (Anambra), Mohammed Tijjani, (Bauchi), Tonye Okio (Bayelsa) and Silas Macikpah (Benue). Others were Abba Ali Monguno (Borno), Nsor Atamgba (Cross River), Alims Agoda (Delta), Tobias Chukuemeka (Ebonyi), Imuetinyan Festus (Edo), Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti), Ginika Tor (Enugu). Hamza Mohammed (Gombe), Diogu Uche, (Imo) and Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa). Also sworn-in were Hadiza Muazu (Kaduna), Mohammed Na’iya (Kano), Lawal Garba (Katsina), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Idris Bello (Kogi), Are Bolaji (Lagos), Nasir Isa ...

The local government council election in Taraba State on Tuesday witnessed low turnout. Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Victor Bala, said farming activities in the State caused the low turnout. However, Bala, who voted in Bakin Dutse, expressed satisfaction that the election was peacefully conducted. “Taraba is an agrarian State and we are in a rainy season, so most of the people went to the farm instead of the polling units. “Even those who turned out to cast their ballots did it in a rush and headed to their farms. Even me, I am coming late, and now that I have voted, I am leaving for other places,” he said. Governor Darius Ishaku also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the council election. The governor, who cast his vote in Sarkin Jukun unit, Takum, said reports reaching him from across the State indicated that the conduct of the election was peaceful. “My deputy (Haruna Manu) has just called and informed me that the election in Taraba ...