Taraba Facts

Wife of Taraba Governor, Barr. Mrs. Anna Darius Ishaku has said every human being has a positive role to play on the issue of all forms of abuse on women and children in the state, she stressed the need for all stakeholders, parent and governments to support the fight against gender based violence to make the society healthy. The Governor’s wife stated this in her remark at the conclusion of a two-day symposium/workshop themed “ Tackling the Pandemic of Violence and the Attendant Consequences; Get involved”  at Taraba motel, Jalingo. Anna Ishaku explained that the workshop has provided a platform for participants to make positive contributions on how best all forms of violence can be addressed head on. On his part, Speaker Taraba State House Assembly, Joseph Albasu Kunini commended the organization of the workshop and looking at the level of violence against women and children in the society, he urged for more collaborative effort to curb the menace. Joseph Albasu Kunini reiterated...

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has revealed that most Chinese doing business in Taraba State have no passports and other documents. He said Chinese are in the business of wood and are destroying forest reserves in the state. He made the revelation while addressing 49 Third Class chiefs in his office on Wednesday. Ishaku said he had earlier warned against cutting Madrid trees, which are expensive and available in the state. He said the Chinese people working with their agents are cutting trees and taking them to China without due process. Ishaku warned the royal fathers against the illegal allocation of lands to strange people and foreign investors, saying such practice undermined the security of the state. He said "You can't be allowed into China without passports, but the Chinese are in Taraba State making business without passports and other legal documents." Daily Trust

A 39-year-old peasant farmer, Aliyu Umar, whose wife cut-off his genitals in Taraba State, has cried out for help. Umar is seeking the sum of N13 million to travel to India for medical treatment to restore his male organ, from kindhearted Nigerians. Umar, who is married to two wives, said his senior wife, Halima, out of jealousy, is always in conflict with him and his new wife. He said: “Halima gave me a plastic bottle containing some liquid and asked me to shake the bottle very well and drink all, which I did, not knowing that it was a sleeping drug. “I started feeling sleepy some minutes after I drank the medicine. Thereafter, we both went to bed together and I slept off. “About 3.30 am, I woke up from sleep, and I found myself in a pool of blood on the bed. I tried to come down from the bed but discovered that my manhood was completely cut-off. My neighbours quickly mobilised for a vehicle and took me to Jalingo. “I spent two days at FMC Jalingo before I was transferred to the Feder...

  Taraba state governor, Arc Darius Ishaku, Thursday said since its creation 29 years ago the state has been making steady progress in all facets of socio-economic development. Ishaku, in a statement issued and signed by his senior special adviser on media and publicity, Mr. Bala Dan Abu, said his administration since assumption of office took advantage of the common heritage and the collective aspiration as one united people to create and develop opportunities that have immensely impacted on the people. The statement stressed that the governor on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the creation of the state felicitated all Tarabans at home and in the Diaspora for the giant and historic strides witnessed under various administrations since its creation on August 27, 1991. “Today we have functional educational and health institutions that are meeting the general and specific needs of our people. We have good roads and an airport that have made travels much easier, faster and enj...

  The Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in Taraba State on Wednesday gave the State Government a seven-day ultimatum to sign the N30,000 minimum wage agreement or face industrial action. The Chairman of the council, Mr Wilfred Kwanchi, gave the ultimatum in Jalingo while addressing newsmen on the plight of workers in the state. Kwanchi decried the inability of the state government to implement the N30, 000 national minimum wage as agreed between it and labour, accusing the government of insensitivity to the plight of workers in the state. He demanded the implementation of the minimum wage in the September salaries, threatening that workers would embark on strike if the government failed to implement the new wage. “The minimum wage of 30, 000 was signed into law in Nigeria on April 8, 2019, and the law allowed states to negotiate and pay the minimum wage based on their ability and capacity. “In Taraba State, the mandate was obtained, negotiations commenced and concluded on Ma...

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to decline jurisdiction over a suit challenging the legitimacy of a penal of inquiry he constituted to investigate the causes of the incessant crises between the Tiv and Jukun tribes in the state. Ishaku’s request forms the kernel of a notice of preliminary objection he filed against the suit by a group, the Incorporated Trustees Mdzough U Tiv, its President, CP. Ihiagh Iorbee and four others. The applicants, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/955/2020, filed on their behalf by Sebatine Hon (SAN), are contending among others, that the composition of the Commission of Inquiry and its name were skewed against the interest of the Tiv tribe and therefore constituted a threat to their fundamental human rights. They are praying the court for among others, a order quashing the instrument setting up the commission, and order quashing its proceedings and order restraining the Governor, ...

The Aku Uka of Wukari and chairman, Taraba state Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa’ibi Kuvyon II, has attributed the lingering crisis between the Tiv, Jukun and other neighbouring communities to unresolved boundary adjustment in the state. Aku, who spoke through the secretary of Wukari traditional council, Bala Hussaini, stated this Monday when he appeared before the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Tiv and their neighbours, sitting in Jalingo. The royal father pointed out that over the years, the problem of unresolved boundary demarcation between Taraba and Benue states has been creating series of problems along the border areas. The Aku Uka also informed the court that since the advent of the present democratic dispensation, there has not been any boundary adjustment by both governments of Benue and Taraba. “There are instances whereby a Tiv man from Benue state may cross over a Boundary in Taraba state, mount signposts and claim settlement,” he said. He commend...

 T hree farmers were abducted by gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, while working in their farms. The incident happened at a farming area along Sabongida-Dananacha in Gassol local government area of Taraba State, Monday. Three other farmers, including a cripple also working in their farms, narrowly escaped. One of the farmers who escaped, Mallam Muhammadu Sabongida, told  Daily Trust  that they were working in their farms at about 8am Monday, when they noticed movement of gunmen coming towards them. Muhammadu said when they noticed the gunmen approaching them, they abandoned their farming tools and started running, adding that the gunmen also gave them a hot chase. According to him, they ran for several kilometres inside the bush where they took cover under big trees. Daily Trust  further gathered that three other farmers from the same town, who were working in their farms, were not that lucky. The farmers, a Tiv, a Fulani and a Hausa man, working separately in thei...

  The Resident Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria, (UMCN) Jalingo, Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna on Monday lamented that it is inhuman to close place of worship for over six years. Yohanna,​who stated this in Jalingo while briefing newsmen, accused Governor Darius Ishaku of being behind the continued crisis rocking church in Taraba state. “His refusal​to reopen the church cathedral for six years, and supporting the renegade group of the church was purely a definition of the governor fuelling crisis in the church. “He has been sponsoring a renegade group led by Rev. Philip Micah Doppah who had left UMCN since 2013. “I was​duly elected as bishop in the United Methodist Church and Ishaku was notified by the Judicial Council of the Church and the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church that I am​ duly nominated, elected and consecrated bishop of UMCN in the state. “But he​ refused to reopen the UMCN cathedral that is the ecclesiastical seat of the bishop that was cl...

 No fewer than 3,383 farmers, who benefited from the N364 million loan in Taraba State between 2018 and 2019, are on the run. The state chapter of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) disclosed this to The Guardian, corroborating an earlier publication on July 22, 2020, that recouping about N240 billion ‘revolving’ credit facilities granted to small-scale businesses had flopped. Acting chairman of RIFAN, Tanko Andami, said the amount was collected as loans for both wet and dry season farming in 2018 and 2019. Wondering why the farmers failed to adhere to the conditions of loans, he said: “None of them, as I am talking with you, has refunded the facility extended to them, and many of them are on the run now.” The Federal Government under its rice production programme, as gathered by The Guardian, made the said fund available to the farmers through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the beneficiaries in the state, via various multi-purpose co-operative societies. T...

  RECRUITMENT INTO THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE (CONSTABLES) Physical and Credential Screening Exercise 24th August, 2020 - 6th September, 2020 Approved Comprehensive Recruitment Screening Schedule for all States and the FCT. https://t.co/l0NEl9RI8Z Time: 7am  Venue: Police officers mess police Headquarters Jalingo. (1) ARDO-KOLA  MONDAY, 24TH  AUGUST, 2020. (1). (2) BALI LGA  TUESDAY, 25TH AUGUST, 2020. DONGA  WEDNESDAY, 26TH AUGUST, 2020. GASHAKA LGA THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2020. (1) GASSOL (2) IBI LGA FRIDAY, 28TH AUGUST, 2020. JALINGO LGA  SATURDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 2020.  (1) KARIM-LAMIDO LGA MONDAY, 31TH - AUGUST, 2020 TO TUESDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2020.  (1) KURMI (2) LAU LGA WEDNESDAY, 2ND SEPTEMBER, 2020. (1) SARDAUNA (2) TAKUM LGA  THURDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2020. (1) USSA (2) WUKARI LGA  FRIDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2020. SATURDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2020. (1) YORRO (2) ZING LGA SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2020 12:00 NOON MOP UP ROUND UP REMAINING CANDI...

  Three persons have reportedly been killed in a clash between Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups in Taraba state. Both groups share a common boundary in not Just Taraba but Benue state. A resident said some persons were killed while several houses set ablaze in Dananacha town, Gassol local government area of Taraba on Wednesday. He said some elders from both ethnic groups later reconciled the aggrieved youth but a fresh round of crisis broke out on Thursday. One of the reasons for the violence is the change of the town’s name from Dananacha to Kwararafa, according to a community source. Dananacha town has been reportedly divided into three; with some part being controlled by Jukun, while the two parts are controlled by the Tiv and Hausa-Fulani ethnic groups. David Misal, spokesman of the Taraba police command, confirmed the latest violence but said the police had restored normalcy in the area. In a bid to find solution to the lingering crisis between both groups, Darius Ishaku, governor ...

He was sacked on Saturday and replaced with his deputy, Iliya Beckyu. It was rumoured his sack may not be unconnected with alleged abuse of protocol during the wedding fatiha of his daughter in Jalingo. Dignitaries, including Ishaku represented by his deputy, Alhaji Hassan Manu, had arrived the private residence of the sacked CPS for the reception two minutes before the 10am schedule. But instead of starting the occassion promptly, The Nation learnt certain forces decided the congregation, including important Islamic clerics, must wait for arrival of Minister of Power, Alhaji Saleh Maman, scheduled to attend the fatiha. It was further learnt the Deputy Governor and other important dignitaries waited for over 30 minutes before arrival of the Minister and his entourage. Other sources explained the Deputy Governor and his entourage allegedly left the venue of the occasion in annoyance and unceremoniously immediately after the reception. Two hours after they left, Mijinyawa’s sack was anno...

  Following NIMET’s publication of flood-prone areas in Nigeria for this year, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced sensitization of local communities in Taraba against floods. NEMA Head of Human Resources Development, Yola Operation Office,  Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, disclose this  on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo. Sadiq, who said that the agency had adopted proactive measures as against response addressing the effects of flood disaster in rural communities, further disclosed that the agency had chosen three local government areas in the state under thepilot  programme. He listed the council areas as Jalingo, Gassol and Lau, adding that those were local councils closer to River Benue. He urged the people to keep vigil with early warning signs, saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’. “We have gone to Namnai community where we interacted with fishermen, farmers and other residents in the area about safety measures and sen...

...New Transformers, REA Projects are coming to Taraba SALE MAMMAN: I paid a visit to the Taraba State Government house today where I met with my Governor and brother His Excellency  Arc. Darius Ishaku, we held discussions centered on how to speed up the final take-off of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and other power issues affecting the State.  I used the opportunity to inform him that the Ministry of Power is planning special projects that will enhance the electricity supply in Taraba state. I have since directed that a number of projects from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) be executed in  different parts of the State.  and as well as the supply of transformers to improve efficiency in Jalingo and other towns. As part of  effort to boost electricity to Taraba State, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is to upgrade the Jalingo transmission substation from the current 132kv to 330kv. 

…slashes original budget to N176.61B from N215.82B The sum of N22,231,687,513 has been allocated by Taraba state government to combat COVID-19 from its budget. The sum was included in the Taraba state’s reviewed budget of 2020 which currently stands at N176,616,318,475. The state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Solomon Elisha, disclosed this Wednesday in Jalingo, the state capital while giving a breakdown of the reviewed budget. Recall that the state governor, Darius Ishaku, had in January signed N215,823,576,810 for 2020 but had to be trimmed down to N176,616,318,475 due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, “from the original budget, a total sum of N143,485,248,829 was appropriated for capital development, out of which the sum of N1,160,016,982 was expended as at the first quarter of 2020. “The revised estimate budget brought it down to N104,877,990,493 because the bulk of the revision is done on the capital. “From the original budget size, the sum of N72,33...

Taraba, unlike other states of the federation, seems not to have plans yet to re-open its schools, especially for the exiting pupils, The Guardian has observed. Though the state’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education claimed to have received directive from Governor Darius Ishaku to re-open schools based on the Federal Ministry of Education’s announcement, there was no sign of readiness as at press time. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Josaness Jegem, recently held a stakeholders’ meeting on re-opening of both public and private secondary schools across the state as directed by the governor. But since then, no step seems to have been taken by the authorities to match words with action. Some head teachers told The Guardian that they were still waiting for the government to provide them with the materials needed to protect their students and teachers from the disease.Pleading anonymity, the head teachers claimed that even the monthly imprest for the upkeep of the scho...

Despite the rising number of Nigeria with 883 deaths,  Taraba is the only state in the country yet to record a single fatality from the virus. Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as of Saturday, August 1st, 2020, indicated that the West Africa country’s COVID-19 infections now stand at 43, 537 with 20,087 recoveries. Taraba, so far, have 54 cases of the virus, out of which 11 have been discharged, 43 persons on admission but no death reported. Nigeria’s COVID-19 epicentre, Lagos has reported 192 deaths from 15,043 cases, the highest number of fatality in the country. All Clear?  On May 17th, Taraba state discharged all 17 active cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) receiving treatment after they tested negative twice. Governor Darius Ishaku confirmed this to reporters when he inspected a 100-bed space capacity isolation centre at the NYSC orientation camp in Sibre in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. No Testing Centre The governor had also lame...

Elders of some ethnic groups in Taraba State, under the aegis of  Taraba  Concerned Group has urged governor  Darius Ishaku  to ensure each tribe in the state have a sense of belonging. The group at a briefing in Jalingo, the state capital, Friday frowned at the creation of some chiefdoms across the state, which they claimed excluded some major ethnic groups. Spokesman of the group, Obed Ameh who read from a prepared text said it was injustice and should be addressed. According to him, “one of the injustices perpetrated on the people was the creation of some chiefdoms which were not qualified in the state and this should be urgently corrected. “We call on the state government to further consult widely to correct the ills done and also to create new and more qualified chiefdoms to carry everybody or tribes along in order not to kill the culture and tradition of other ethnic groups.” While pledging their unalloyed support to the administration of governor Ishaku, the g...