Taraba Facts

A fresh clash between Mambilla tribe and Fulani  has left at least seven people dead, 186 livestock killed and over 340 homes razed in Taraba State. According to Dailly Trust reports, the incident happened at Geroji, Mbamnga ward, Sardauna Local Government Area, also displaced more than 1,000 residents. Residents and community leaders say the death toll could be higher as dozens of persons remain missing. Daily Trust sources said the clash erupted penultimate Friday night following a dispute between a Mambilla woman and a Fulani man. The violence subsequently spread to Geroji and Mbara communities as well as some settlements including Wuro Buba, Wuro Ardo Bashiru, Wuro Wakili Idrisa, Wuro Saleh Petel, Wuro Hassan Jaji, Wuro Alhaji Jibo, Wuro Alhaji Manu and Wuro Mbarkal. Speaking to Daily Trust correspondent, one of the community leaders, Ardo Bashiru, said, “We have lost everything. Our houses were burnt, our livestock – cattle, sheep and horses – were either dead or s...

Jalingo Local Government Council in Taraba State has suspended its proposed N2,000 deduction from staff salaries for the Code of Conduct Form. Initially, the Local Government Council had proposed deductions of N2,000 from the entire staff of the Local Government Council just to get them a Code of Conduct (Asset Declaration Form), which is supposed to be free for both Federal, State and Local Government workers accross the country. Council Chairman, Nura Dantsoho, announced that the forms would now be provided free of charge to all staff, following concerns raised over the proposed deduction. He said the decision was taken in the interest of workers’ welfare and to ensure staff obtain the required forms without financial burden.

Security operatives have arrested members of an alleged criminal gang accused of terrorizing students around the School of Nursing, Yaggai and ATC area  of Jalingo, Taraba State. The arrest followed reports of attacks and theft targeting students in the areas. The security operatives also recovered over 12 smartphones and laptops allegedly linked to the suspects. The recovered items are expected to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the reported attacks and identifying their owners.

    Sen. David Jimkuta By Taraba Facts Former classmates of Senator David Jimkuta, who say they graduated with him from Government Secondary School (GSS), Wukari, in 2000, have disputed allegations that the senator submitted forged secondary school certificates. The classmates said the school’s official records could be examined by relevant authorities or any interested party seeking to verify Jimkuta’s academic history. Their comments followed a petition reportedly submitted by retired Major General A.T. Ibrahim to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in which he called for Jimkuta’s disqualification over allegations relating to his NECO certificates and declarations made to the party and other authorities. The allegations contained in the petition have not been independently established in this report. Speaking on the matter, Mr. Haruna Magaji and Galeya Gembo said Jimkuta was a member of their 2000 graduating set at GSS Wukari. According to them, they revisited ...

—Daily Post Reports  Final-year students of Taraba State University, Jalingo, have appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to urgently intervene in the dispute between the state government and ASUU to prevent an indefinite strike. In an open letter dated September 22, the students said their final examinations are scheduled to begin on September 29, 2026, and warned that a strike could disrupt the exams, delay their graduation and increase their financial and psychological burden. They urged the government to engage ASUU, address its demands and assure students that the examinations would go ahead as scheduled. Daily Post 

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has said his ambition to govern Taraba State is not an attempt to secure the governorship for the Ichen ethnic group, insisting that he is seeking the mandate of all Tarabans. Bwacha stated this in a press release dated September 21, 2026, titled “Not an Ichen Project: The Taraba Mandate.” The former senator said he was “not a tribal politician” and was neither seeking to become governor for the Ichen people nor seeking the support of one tribe, religion or locality. He said his ambition was to govern the entire state, stressing that the governorship of Taraba was bigger than ethnic identity and the interests of individual politicians. Bwacha also addressed the reported support of some individuals who identify as Ichen for Governor Agbu Kefas’ political position. According to him, those individuals had not supported his political aspirations since 1991, adding that he would have been concerned if they had supported him all these years onl...

By Taraba Facts Correspondent Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has called on the Taraba State Government and security agencies to take immediate action to restore peace and protect lives and property following renewed violence on the Mambilla Plateau. In a press release dated September 18, 2026, titled “Mambilla Plateau: Call for Immediate Action,” Bwacha described the continuing loss of lives and disruption of peace in the area as unacceptable. The call comes amid reports of violence in parts of Sardauna Local Government Area, particularly Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji communities. The local government had earlier imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected communities following reports of killings, destruction of property and rising tension.  Bwacha, who cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, said the security and welfare of citizens should remain a primary responsibility of government. He urged the Taraba State Government to restore order and guarantee the safety of reside...

The Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education has visited the College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, following the reported robbery attack on students on September 17, 2026. The ministry said 33 mobile phones were stolen, while about 20 female students were reportedly beaten and one male student sustained serious injuries. Three phones and a cutlass were recovered, but no arrest had been made as of the visit. The ministry recommended stronger security, intensified investigation, urgent relocation of students to safer accommodation and completion of the college’s new hostels. The college also disclosed that the three rented hostels currently occupied by students had reportedly been sold, with a notice to vacate by November 2026.

Scores of people, including women and children, are feared dead after a mining pit reportedly collapsed on illegal miners at Mayo-Kam community in Bali LGA, Taraba State. Residents said more than 20 people may have been trapped, but the police confirmed that five bodies had so far been recovered, with rescue operations still ongoing. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed. The incident has raised fresh concerns over illegal and unregulated mining activities in the state. Daily Post

Former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has appealed his 75-year prison sentence for alleged ₦33.8 billion money laundering, asking the Court of Appeal in Abuja to quash his conviction and discharge and acquit him. Following the appeal, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out an EFCC motion seeking permanent forfeiture of properties allegedly linked to Mamman. The EFCC withdrew the motion to allow the appeal process to proceed, and Justice James Omotosho granted the withdrawal. Mamman’s appeal contains 18 grounds, including claims that his right to fair hearing was violated when judgment was delivered in his absence on May 7, 2026, despite judgment earlier being scheduled for June 9. He also challenged the exclusion of a defence witness, reliance on uncorroborated accomplice evidence, conviction on counts to which he allegedly did not plead, and the finding that funds for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects were diverted for his personal use.

The Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council in Taraba State, Mohammed J. Umar, has declared a 24-hour curfew in Mbamnga and two neighbouring communities following reported communal unrest in the area. The curfew, which reportedly took immediate effect, covers Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji communities, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the chairman’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Marvelous Heli. Residents reportedly said tension escalated on Saturday following a reported fatal altercation between a cattle herder and a farmer in the Mbamnga area. The chairman reportedly said the curfew was aimed at restoring calm and preventing further escalation, while assuring residents that the situation was under control. Umar also reportedly said security operatives had been deployed to the affected communities to maintain law and order and protect lives and property. He directed security agencies to strictly enforce the curfew and reportedly author...

Students of the Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jalingo, were reportedly attacked by armed thieves wielding cutlasses and machetes. The attackers invaded both male and female hostels, injuring some students and stealing at least 18 mobile phones. The incident has raised concerns about student security, especially as the newly built hostel has reportedly not yet been commissioned, forcing some students to live in private accommodation outside the campus. Students and stakeholders are calling for urgent measures to improve security and protect students.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University branch, has issued a final 14-day ultimatum to the Taraba State Government to implement outstanding parts of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement. The ultimatum, which began on September 14, 2026, will expire on September 28. ASUU said it may take lawful industrial action if the unresolved issues are not addressed. The union had earlier issued a 14-day strike notice in August but suspended the planned action to allow the university’s combined convocation ceremonies to take place. ASUU is now urging the government and education stakeholders to act quickly to prevent disruption of academic activities.

The Advisory Committee set up to examine the electricity and transformer dispute between the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) and residents of Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State has submitted its report to the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. Davoro K. Titus. The report was presented to the council chairman on Monday, September 14, 2026, following extensive consultations with stakeholders and communities across the local government area. According to the committee, residents of Zing remain willing to maintain a peaceful and cordial relationship with YEDC, but are urgently calling for the restoration of electricity supply to the area. Among its key recommendations, the committee urged YEDC to provide 33kV transformers to address the electricity challenges before removing the existing 11kV transformer. It also called for the immediate restoration of power to the Zing feeder, stressing the need for improved communication betwe...

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has approved the appointment of Professor Demo Joab Usman Kalla as the Vice-Chancellor of the Taraba State University of Tropical Agriculture, Science, Technology and Climate Action, Gembu. The appointment was contained in a press release dated September 14, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps, Esq. Until his appointment, Professor Kalla served as the Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He also served as a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee. Professor Kalla is described as a prolific scholar with extensive research publications in reputable local and international journals. His contributions to the field of Animal Science have earned him recognition within academic and professional circles. According to the statement, Governor Kefas expressed confidence that...

The leadership crisis at the Taraba State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (COAST), Jalingo, has taken a new turn after Commissioner Dr. Mike Dio Jen directed Acting Rector Alhaji Ibrahim Gimba Buba to immediately take full administrative control of the institution. The directive reportedly followed concerns that suspended Rector Dr. Yakubu Ali Garjila had continued to occupy his office despite the state government’s suspension order. The acting rector was also directed to notify the college’s commercial banks and remove Garjila as a signatory to the institution’s accounts. The latest action is aimed at clarifying the chain of authority and preventing the suspended rector from exercising administrative or financial control. Stakeholders are now awaiting further government action to resolve the prolonged dispute and restore stability at COAST.

No fewer than 112 of Nigeria’s 115 Federal Unity Colleges have remained closed as the 2026/2027 academic session commenced, following an indefinite strike by workers under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and the Joint Congress of Unions of the Federal Ministry of Education. The industrial action is primarily over the Federal Government’s plan to concession King’s College, Lagos, a move the unions strongly oppose. The workers are demanding that the government completely halt the concession process, arguing that such a decision should not be taken without proper consultation with the unions and other stakeholders. The unions have also called for transparent dialogue with the Federal Government, insisting that their representatives must be invited to discuss the matter before the schools can reopen. The strike has continued despite directives from the Federal Ministry of Education instructing principals of the Unity Colleges to open thei...

By Ibrahim Bambur  Concerns have been raised over the condition of Jibu Health Centre in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, following the circulation of a video showing the facility in a reportedly dilapidated state. Reacting to the video, a Taraba indigene, Ibrahim Bambur, expressed disappointment over what he described as the neglect of a primary healthcare facility meant to serve residents of the area. He questioned how communities could be expected to access quality healthcare when basic health facilities are allowed to deteriorate. Bambur also criticised the state government’s spending priorities, drawing a comparison between the condition of health facilities and the planned Wukari flyover project. He questioned whether greater attention should be given to healthcare infrastructure, drugs, medical personnel and other basic services that directly affect residents. He further argued that many ordinary residents may derive more immediate benefit from funct...

In a historic milestone for Nigeria’s built environment, 30 year-old Civil Engineer and Construction Manager, Abdullahi Sule-Muri, MCIOB, has officially become the first native of Taraba State to attain the prestigious status of UK-Chartered Construction Manager. His election to Full Membership (MCIOB) of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), UK, places him within an elite tier of global construction leaders operating under a UK Royal Charter granted by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1980. The designation represents the absolute pinnacle of international recognition for project leadership, capital protection, and site governance. The milestone further solidifies Sule-Muri’s position as an advanced technical authority across West Africa. Holding a Master of Science in Project Management with Distinction from the United Kingdom with research focused on evaluating construction digitalisation and technology adoption in Nigeria, he is also among an exclusive group ...

Hon. Leah Solomon Olusiyi has officially withdrawn her lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Hon. Sadiq Abbas Tafida. The suit, registered under suit number FHC/CS/17/2026 at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Jalingo Judicial Division, was formally terminated via a legal filing submitted to the court. According to the official court document titled "Notice of Discontinuance," the plaintiff has chosen to wholly discontinue the suit in its entirety against all listed defendants. The legal motion was brought pursuant to Order 50, Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019. The court document, dated September 10, 2026, bears official seals from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Federal High Court cashier. It was prepared and filed by a team of legal representatives acting as plaintiff's counsel, including P.D. Pius, Esq., ACIArb. (UK), O.A. Mathew, Esq., L.L...

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha has called on political parties, supporters and stakeholders in Taraba State to embrace issue-based politics and peaceful campaigning ahead of the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections. In a press release dated September 9, 2026, Bwacha urged his supporters and political associates to focus their campaigns on policies, ideas, vision and development rather than personalities and personal attacks. He called for responsibility, maturity and respect for divergent political opinions, stressing that political engagements should strengthen rather than divide the people of Taraba. The former senator further described the forthcoming election as a contest of ideas, vision and commitment to service. He urged politicians to engage one another with dignity, tolerance and mutual respect while allowing voters to freely and peacefully make their choices. Bwacha concluded by calling for a political culture centred on the aspirations and future of t...

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has set up a five-man committee to monitor road construction and rehabilitation projects across the state’s 16 local government areas. The committee will inspect ongoing projects, assess their quality and compliance with approved standards, and identify areas requiring urgent government intervention. The move follows concerns from residents over abandoned projects, rain damage, poor drainage and alleged use of substandard materials. Residents are now looking to the committee to ensure effective supervision, enforce contractors’ compliance and help ensure that public funds invested in road projects deliver quality infrastructure.

Stakeholders in Taraba state under the aegis of Concerned Taraba Citizens have listed 42 unfulfilled campaign promises against Governor Agbu Kefas, insisting that the outstanding projects cannot be ignored as the governor seeks a second term in the 2027 governorship election, VANGUARD reports. The group’s Executive Director, Yakubu Haruna, in a statement, said the list cuts across some of the most critical needs of the state, spanning roads and transportation, education, healthcare, water, electricity, employment and workers’ welfare, and comes at a time the state’s revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee FAAC has risen sharply since Kefas assumed office in 2023. According to VANGUARD report, the outstanding projects include the dualisation of the Jalingo-Wukari, Bali-Gembu and Zing-Wukari roads; construction of the Jalingo-Karim Lamido, Wukari-Chinkai, Donga-Bentaje-Tunari and Lafiya-Jen roads; the Wukari-Takum Junction flyover; township roads in Jalingo a...

By Taraba Facts  The Zagah–Suntai Highway in Taraba State has been temporarily reopened to motorists following urgent repair works carried out by Chinese construction company, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). The intervention came after flooding washed away sections of the highway, disrupting movement and raising concerns among motorists and residents who rely on the route. The temporary repairs have restored access along the affected sections, allowing motorists to resume movement. However, the intervention is expected to serve as a temporary measure pending more permanent rehabilitation of the highway, particularly as continued rainfall and flooding could further weaken the road if comprehensive repairs are not undertaken.

By Taraba Facts  Questions are being raised over the state of the Jalingo–Karim Lamido road and the level of attention being given to infrastructure in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State. In a commentary titled “To the Stakeholders of Karim Lamido, Where Is Your Voice?”, writer Lukis Pheetami recalled that Governor Agbu Kefas, before becoming governor, visited Karim Lamido and sought the support of residents during the election campaign. According to the writer, the governor later returned to Jen in Karim Lamido LGA in May 2024, where he reportedly reiterated his administration’s commitment to constructing the Jalingo–Karim Lamido road. The governor was also said to have expressed hope that the project would be completed before the end of his first tenure. However, more than two years after that reported commitment, the writer argues that the road remains in poor condition, describing it as one of the worst roads in the state. The concern has become more...