Tag: taraba state

  • CAN tasks government to arrest perpetrators behind killings in Taraba

    CAN tasks government to arrest perpetrators behind killings in Taraba

    The Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Taraba State Wing has appealed to the government and intelligence agencies to take immediate and decisive action in apprehending those responsible for the recent killings in the state.

    They made the calls following the killing of farmers in the Yangtu Development Area of Taraba State on Friday by suspected Fulani bandits.

    In a statement on Sunday, CAN, urged authorities to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

    The statement which was personally signed by the state chairman, Rev. Dr. Isaiah Magaji Jirapye, expressed strong condemnation for the “inhuman and dastardly acts”.
    CAN noted that there is need for urgency for thorough investigation to identify and hold accountable those behind the attacks.
    While calling for calm in the affected communities, CAN emphasized the importance of cooperation with security agencies, urging residents to provide relevant information that could aid in the quick apprehension of those responsible.
  • PDP sweeps Taraba local govt election

    PDP sweeps Taraba local govt election

    Candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the chairmanship seats in all the 16 local government areas of Taraba in the just-concluded  local government elections in the State.

    Chief Philip Duwe, the Chairman of Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), disclosed this on Sunday while declaring the results of Saturday’s election  at the commission’s headquarters in Jalingo.

    Duwe said that the results of the  165 contested councilorship seats in the 16 local government areas were declared at the various LGAs.

    “This election was keenly contested by Six political parties and the PDP has won overwhelmingly from the results here declared.

    “The results announced at the local government collation centres are legally valid and what we are doing is just to validate what has been announced.

    “We are very grateful to the media for the objective coverage from the onset of this journey to this point.

    “Despite the hard times, you have shown absolute commitment and resilience. You have served your fatherland excellently and you can hold your shoulders high.

    “To assert credibility, we must get as much observation and criticisms of what we are doing and suggestions of ways we can improve.

    “We would study the reports from various quarters and leverage on them for better performance subsequently.

    “I led a team of highly respected journalists, election observers and other people to a polling unit and we did not see any election activity happening.

    “This should tell you that we did not teleguide anything. Otherwise, I would not have led a team to such a place. So I must admit that this is a process and you can not have absolute control over anything.

    “Elections are meant to be won and lost. We call for patience from those who may feel grieved. We have a duty to sustain the peace we currently enjoy.

    “Those who have won, this may be your good day but be humble and grateful in victory. If you have lost, it could be a bad day but the bad days will expire. Be prayerful and focused,” Duwe said.

  • Family of 4 electrocuted to death in Taraba

    Family of 4 electrocuted to death in Taraba

    The Police Command in Taraba on Monday confirmed the electrocution of a family of four around Dinyavo area of Jalingo, the state capital.

    Mr Abdullahi Usman, the command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident in a statement in Jalingo.

    According to him, the incident happened around 11:00 a.m. on Monday.

    “We suspect it resulted from a power surge.

    “At about 11:00 a.m. on Monday, we were reliably informed that a house located at Dinyavoh area of Jalingo was on fire.

    “Detectives from GRA Police Division were quickly deployed to the scene and, on arrival, found the four victims with burns suspected to be from electrocution.

    “The victims are Remond Ofonbuk, 44, his wife, Mfonbong Remond, Hevean Remond, 15, and First Remond, 13 years old.

    “We have received information indicating that immediately power was restored, the transformer serving the area blew up.

    “We learnt that many houses within the neighbourhood experienced high electric voltage which might have led to the fire outbreak that inflicted burns on the victims.

    “Our detectives quickly evacuated the victims to Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo for treatment but they were confirmed dead on arrival,” he said.

    Usman said that the corpses had been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for autopsy while investigation had commenced to ascertain the real cause of the incident.

  • NYSC: Taraba Govt announces N85,000 special allowance for Corps Members

    NYSC: Taraba Govt announces N85,000 special allowance for Corps Members

    Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) teaching in public schools in Taraba State will be paid a one-time N50,000 medical allowance, a N25,000 accommodation allowance per term, and a monthly N10,000, the TheNewsGuru.com can authoritatively report.

    Zainab Usman, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, disclosed this development in a statement on Sunday.

    According to her, the N50,000 medical allowance would be paid to NYSC members posted to schools.

    She added that the governor also approved N25,000 as an accommodation allowance per term and N10,000 as monthly support from the state government.

    She said the governor gave the approval due to the high increase in school enrollment as a result of the government’s declaration of free basic education, uniforms, and other learning materials.

    “The surge in new enrollments witnessed in our primary and secondary schools over the past ten working days has necessitated immediate action,” Usman said.

    The Federal Government currently pays NYSC members a N33,000 monthly allowance in line with the national minimum wage signed into law by President Buhari on April 18, 2019.

    Workers in Nigeria are expecting a review of the current minimum wage following the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

  • Speakership: Top contender Betara places demised Taraba member-elect son on scholarship

    Speakership: Top contender Betara places demised Taraba member-elect son on scholarship

    …as 60-member-elect accompany him to Hon Maihanchi hometown

    Top contender for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu on Sunday vow to train first son of late Hon Ismaila Maihanchi to any level of his choice.

    This came to bear when Betara in company of about 60 colleagues stormed Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital, North East Nigeria on a condolence visit to the late Member-elect, Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci who passed away last week.

    Out of deep compassion, Betara placed the deceased son on scholarship as a way of lessening the family’s burden.

    Recall that Maihanchi who was elected to represent Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency of the state in the just concluded general election, died in the early hours of last week Saturday in Abuja following a brief illness.

    Hon. Betara who is the incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations in a statement issued by his media campaign team expressed grief over the ugly incident.

    He described the late member-elect as “a brother and friend,”

    On the visit to the family the lawmaker said “Earlier today, myself, and the team of my colleagues paid a condolence visit to the family of our beloved colleague, late Hon. Isma’ila Yashua Maihanchi”.

    “I want to sincerely appreciate the over 60 Honourable Members of the House of Representatives who took out time and accompanied me, despite their busy schedule.

    “I was indeed touched by their depth of sacrifices and show of love, as we had to fly through Yola and took a voyage of about nine hours to Taraba State, while it was raining cat and dog in some axis as we travelled.”

    “During my condolence message as we visited the wife of the late, and his biological parents, I promised them, that his son shall be placed on scholarship from primary education to any level he desires to attain henceforth”

    “Once again, my heartfelt condolences to the wife and the entire family of the late Honorable,” Betara said.

    Consequently, the lawmaker described the move as a step in the direction and the time to show love to the deceased family in company of over 60 returning and newly elected members and offered prayers for the repose of his soul.

    Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, also met with the late lawmakers wife who is an expectant mother as well as the deceased aged parents, assuring them of his support and scholarship for the child’s education.

    Late Hon. Maihanci, left behind a child and an expectant wife and aged parents.

    The leading aspirant has since returned to Abuja with his colleagues.

  • Alleged Ussa LGA killings: Council Boss resigns over Gov Ishaku’s complicity

    Alleged Ussa LGA killings: Council Boss resigns over Gov Ishaku’s complicity

    Due to the unabated killing of the people of Ussa Local government area of Taraba state by gunmen, the Caretaker Chairman of the local government Hon Abershi Musa on Wednesday resigned his appointment, citing governor Darius Ishaku’s indifference to the killings as the reason for his resignation.

    The council boss tendered his resignation letter to the governor on Wednesday evening after serving in the capacity for six months.

    Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Musa explained that the inhuman attitude and the inaction of the governor over the continued killings by suspected herdsmen in Ussa local government was the reason behind his decision to quit the government.

    According to him, it amounts to betrayal if he continues to be part of the government that has shown obvious indifference that borders on complicity in the killings of his people just because he wants to remain in power and enjoy the benefits that come with the position.

    “The inhuman attitude of governor Darius Ishaku over the killings of my people in Ussa local government by herdsmen is the reason why I have tendered my resignation letter as a caretaker chairman of the local government. I am not hungry so, i can’t be chairman while my people are being killed and nothing is done about.

    “I don’t want to be seen as a compromise in the situation. I want my integrity maintained because my people already know who I am. When the situation started months ago, I quickly informed the governor through phone conversation but no action was taken toward ending the killings. At a joint security meeting again, I drew the attention of the governor but he has refused to respond or take action to end the killings even as we speak.

    “My people are being killed on a daily basis for reason best known to the killers and their sponsors and governor Ishaku has refused persistently to comment.

    “Just this week, 15 people were attacked and killed, the Palace of (Kwe Ando Madugu), the 3rd class Chief of Lisan Chiefdom was also attacked and destroyed by angry youth who believed that I and the chief have the capacity to stop the Fulani attack in the area but are not doing so.

    “It is not all about me being chairman. It’s all about the people, the poor masses of the local government. How can I be chairman and watch helplessly when my people are being killed?

    “I didn’t beg for the appointment, the governor called me and I gave him condition that the appointment must be the type that I will touch the lives of my Usa people. Even at the joint security meeting, I told the governor that we can not condole any killing in Usa because, our people must farm this year. Farming is the only source of my people’s earning, they didn’t farm last year due to headsmen attacks and they must farm this year to live. It doesn’t matter whether I am chairman or not, all I want is to stop the killings and let my people farm and live a normal life.

    “Several questions are being asked on why governor Ishaku has refused to take any action on the continued killings in Ussa. The citizens are saying may be is because Ussa local government did not vote for the governor in the last senatorial election but I think as a politician, you don’t expect certain percentage of votes from people and if the game turn to the opposite then the people automatically become your enemies.

    “But if that is the case, has the governor forgotten so soon that the same people gave him massive votes in 2015 and 2019? I think if that is the governor’s reason then, he is not a politician and is purely inhuman of him.

    “I am already discussing with stakeholders on how to stop the situation so, I wish to appeal to people of the local government to remain calm and distance from any action that would spark more trouble in the area” he explained.

    Recall that a prominent member of the Ishaku’s cabinet resigned from the government not long ago for reasons most people believe are not unconnected to the killings.

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  • Taraba Guber Polls: NNPP heads to court

    Taraba Guber Polls: NNPP heads to court

    Prof. Sani Yahaya, the governorship candidate of New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) in Taraba, has rejected the outcome of the gubernatorial election in the state.

    Yahaya told journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday that he would challenge the result of the governorship election in court.

    According to him, there are overwhelming evidence of electoral malpractice in the election that gave victory to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kefas Agbum.

    Yahaya urged his supporters and the people of the state to stay calm and eschew violence, assuring that the NNPP won the election and would reclaim its mandate through legal means.

    He appreciated the people for their love and support throughout the electioneering process.

    “Yesterday’s announcement and declaration of a candidate does not mean an end to the election process.

    “The process continues in line with the guidelines. Taraba is used to enduring injustice by writing fictitious results. Luckily, the Electoral Act as amended has made provisions for all results to be reviewed.

    “We are confident that the victory is ours. We would challenge the result through every legal means and claim our victory.

    “Our victory is certain and we would retain it. I call on Taraba people to stay calm. We would challenge the results because I am the duly elected governor of Taraba State.

    “That mandate cannot be stolen. We have initiated the process and we are on course,” he said.

  • Finally, INEC declares Kefas Agbu governor-elect in Taraba

    Finally, INEC declares Kefas Agbu governor-elect in Taraba

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has finally declared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate of Taraba state, Kefas Agbu as the governor-elect.

    Making the declaration in the early hours of Tuesday, in Jalingo, the state capital, the returning officer, Professor Mohammed Ahmad Abdullaziz said the candidate has fulfilled all the election requirements, hence his emergence as the governor-elect for Taraba state.

    While the governor-elect polled a total of 257,926 votes, in last Saturday’s gubernatorial election, his closest rival who is the candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party NNPP, Professor Sani Yahaya scored a total votes of 202,277.

    A former Deputy Minority Leader who later defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha came third with 142,502 votes.

    In his acceptance speech, Agbu vowed to carry all the people in the state along, irrespective of political, religious and tribal affiliations.

    He called on all his fellow contestants to give him the much needed support.

    Elated by the victory, the party’s state chairman, Inuwa Bakari said the victory is not for the PDP alone, but for the entire people of the state.

  • Panic in Taraba as BVAS, voting materials destroyed by hoodlums

    Panic in Taraba as BVAS, voting materials destroyed by hoodlums

    Voting materials which include Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), and ballot papers, among others, have been destroyed in the Akate ward in Donga local government council of Taraba State.

    Accreditation and voting scheduled to commence at about 8 am were disrupted by hoodlums who attacked polling units spread across the ward.

    Though the hoodlums were said to have been repelled by security operatives, the electorates expressing their franchise in today’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the ward were frustrated.

    Gunshots from the hoodlums, who were heavily armed, rang sporadically in the area to prevent the electorates from coming out to vote.

    An Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ad-hoc staff member vowed to withdraw from participating in the exercise, stating that “our security is not even guaranteed.”

    As at the time of filing this report, voting in the 29 polling units of the ward has been put on hold as tension and apprehension have enveloped the area and the council.

    An eyewitness said the hoodlums succeeded in carrying out their nefarious act before the arrival of security operatives.

    The eyewitness, who gave his name as James Chimin, expressed sadness that the much-promised protection by security operatives turned out to be a mirage.

    Aligning their position to that of Chimin, some of the electoral staff, said, ” for now, we don’t see any election taking place in this ward.”

    They urged the authority concerned to wade in by putting all the desired security in the polling units across Donga and the state at large.”

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  • BREAKING: Bwacha wins Taraba fresh APC governorship primary

    BREAKING: Bwacha wins Taraba fresh APC governorship primary

    Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha has been declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Taraba governorship primaries rerun.

    Retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chairman of the electoral committee announced the result the results in Jalingo on Friday.

    Buratai said that Bwacha scored 778 votes to emerge winner, while Sen. Yusuf  Yusuf came second with five votes.

    He said that 840 delegates were expected at the election, out of which 796 were accredited.

    Speaking, Bwacha described the result as a confirmation that people of the state were truly yearning for good governance in the state.

    The Supreme Court had nullified the state APC governorship primaries and ordered for a rerun.