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Tag: Taraba

  • Police confirm 5 persons killed by gunmen in Taraba

    The Police Command in Taraba has confirmed the killing of five persons by gunmen in the early hours of Sunday after the general elections in the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) in the state, Mr David Misal, made the confirmation while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

    Misal said the five persons were coming from Umari to Cambri villages in Karim Lamido Local GovernmentAra when they were ambushed at about 3:00 a.m. by the hoodlums and shot dead.

    The PPRO however, explained that the killings had nothing to do with the elections.

    “Yes, five people were ambushed by hoodlums and shot dead in the early hours of Sunday in Karim Lamido Local Government Council of Taraba.

    “The killings do not have to do with elections, it is being investigated as a criminal matter,” he said.

    However, Mr Aaron Artimas, the spokesperson of the All progressives Congress (APC) in the Taraba, said one of the victims, Malam Muhammed Kambari, served as APC agent in his home town of Kambari and was coming from the village in the company of others when some gunmen suspected to be political thugs shot them dead.

    “Kambari went to his home town of Kambari where he served as a party agent and was on his way back to Karim, the local government headquarters where they would proceed to Jalingo with the election results when he and four others were waylaid and killed.

    “We have filed the report with the police and so far nothing has come out of it yet but it is our hope that they will bring the perpetrators to book,” he said.

    Alhaji Inuwa Bakare,the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, described the death of the five persons as “most unfortunate” but maintained that the party had nothing to do with the incident.

    “The election in Karim Lamido Local Government Area and indeed the entire state was very peaceful and there was no incident of recorded violence.

    “It is sad that people were killed after the election on their way to back to Jalingo.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidential and National Assembly elections were held peacefully across the state on Saturday and collation of results ongoing in various local government councils.

  • Buhari reacts to death of supporters at Taraba APC presidential rally

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed profound sadness over the loss of lives at the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Rally in Jalingo, Taraba State, Thursday.

    Five people were said to have died and many injured during the campaign.

    Reacting to reports of the tragic death of some APC supporters due to the overwhelming crowd at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, the President said: “I always feel very sad and distressed when ordinary Nigerians who love me and our party because of what we stand for and have done, make personal sacrifices by taking the pains to show their support, end their lives tragically.”

    While appreciating the massive support he is receiving all over the country, Buhari called for restraint on the part of his supporters to avoid such tragic incidences, and improved crowd management at rally grounds.

    “I want them to stay alive and witness the dividends of purposeful governance that the APC administration will unfold when they renew our mandate,” he said.

    Commiserating with the families of the victims and the APC family, the President prayed God to grant peace to the souls of the departed and speedy recovery to the injured.

  • Court orders EFCC to refund N228m to Taraba APC Gov candidate, two others in 72hours

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo on Wednesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to refund N228m it forcefully collected from the trio of APC governorship candidate, Sani Danladi, Senator Joel Ikenya and ex-Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Mark Useni.

    The order must be complied with within 72 hours, the court ordered.

    The defendants were charged to court by the EFCC on allegations of conspiracy and misappropriating the sum of N450m presidential campaign funds in 2015.

    Justice Stephen Pam delivered the judgement in a case filed by the EFCC against Ikenya, Useni and Danladi.

    In the judgement which lasted for several hours, Justice Pam held that the EFCC failed to substantiate its claims against the defendants.

    The court also held that the EFCC could not furnish the court with substantive evidence against the defendants and urged the Commission to desist from infringing on the rights of innocent citizens.

    “The prosecution did not provide this court with concrete evidence to nail the defendants.

    “The EFCC is hereby ordered to refund the sum of N228m which the Commission received from the defendants.”

    Senator Ikenya applauded the court for allowing the rule of law to prevail in the matter, describing the court as the last hope of common man.

    One of the defence counsels, Ibrahim Effiong, said the ruling was an indication that the rule of law has come to bear.

    “The entire charges were abuse of court process. By this ruling, the EFCC should learn to allow the rule of law to prevail.

    Prosecution counsel could not be reached for comment.

  • Federal Projects: Senate approves N102bn refund to Delta, Taraba States

    The Senate has approved promissory notes and bond issuances of N102.2 billion to Delta and Taraba States as refunds for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.

    While N67.9 billion was approved for Delta State, N34.3 billion was approved for Taraba State.

    The Senate also approved N43.5 billion as payment for ”contractors liabilities”.

    The contractors are Setraco Nigeria Limited (N37.4 billion); Bouygues Nigeria Limited (N4.6 billion); Simidia S&I International Company Limited (N346 million); Hamdala Homes &Agencies Limited (N210.6 million) and Lejmej Nigeria Limited N960 million.

    The approval was a sequel to the adoption of the interim report of the ad-hoc committee set to consider the Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance to Settle Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations on the refund to state governments for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.

    A promissory note is a debt instrument which one party promises in writing to pay a determinate sum of money to the other, either at a fixed or determinable future time, under specific terms.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in March written to the National Assembly, seeking its approval for the issuance of promissory notes to offset inherited local debts.

    The Senate eventually resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the programme and advise the Senate appropriately.

    Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Francis Alimekhena, noted that the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme– an incentive of the federal government, aimed at supporting active exporters in expanding their businesses, also helps in the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

    He explained that beneficiaries of the scheme have not been paid since 2007 up to the compilation period in 2016/2017 a backlog which he said affected the liquidity strength of most of the companies. This he said, has resulted in difficulty of loan repayment and meeting of employee’s obligations.

    Mr Alimekhena said most of the federal highways were in a state of disrepair before the state intervention adding that inspections were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on all roads completed by the states to ascertain the quality of work done.

    In his remark, Shehu Sani said the report brings an end to the long period of wait and the stagnation the companies have faced especially in terms of meeting their daily obligations, especially to their workers.

    Also approved by the lawmakers, is the sum of N193 billion to clear outstanding claims of 269 verified companies (who are beneficiaries of the EEG.

     

     

  • Military discovers illegal security training camp in Taraba

    The 20 Model Battalion of the Nigeria Army located in Serti, Taraba State, said it has discovered an illegal security training camp in Serti locality.

    Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt.-Col. Sani Adamu, stated this on Thursday in Serti.

    Sani told the News Agency of Nigeria that the Special Adviser on Security to Taraba Governor, Col. Agyo Wapan (retd), had been invited as part of investigation on the issue.

    He said that the discovery followed calls by concerned citizens who disclosed that no fewer than 300 youths were being trained in a public primary school in the area.

    He said that on the receipt of the calls, he promptly responded by visiting the site and found over 300 young men undergoing military training.

    The commander said that the training was being conducted by GS Security Services, a security outfit in the state.

    He confirmed that he had filed a report to his superior on the development and for further directive.

    The security outfit is allegedly hired by the Taraba Government to train selected youths as ‘Marshals.’

    Sani explained that his men had profiled the young men and dismantled the camp, while awaiting directive from Army Headquarters.

    Alarm on the illegal training camp was sequel to unusual influx of hundreds of young men from some local government areas into Serti, headquarters of Gashaka Local Government Area.

    A resident of the area, Abubakar Mohammed, told NAN that they raised the alarm because of the frequent clashes of youths who were commonly used by desperate politicians to hunt their enemies.

    “We suspect that the state government is training them, under whatever guise, to use them to disrupt the election process in 2019,” he said.

    Contacted, Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Area, Umar Mohammed, explained that the training was at the instance of the state government.

    He said that 10 youths were selected from each ward to be trained as marshals who would subsequently be deployed to provide security in their areas.

    Mohammed said that before the exercise, the military, police and the Directorate of State Service were invited to a security meeting where the issues of uniform and other kitting of the marshals were agreed on.

    He said that those being trained in Serti were recruited from Sardauna and Gashaka areas “with the full knowledge of stakeholders in each ward.”

     

  • Road accidents claim 23 lives in Taraba in six months – FRSC

    At least 23 people have died and many others injured in 61 road crashes in Taraba State between January and June 2018.

    This is according to the official data obtained from the Taraba State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

    Mr. Ben Akunne, Assistant Corps Commander Operations, Taraba State Sector Command of the FRSC, said the command was making efforts to establish more units of the corps in Gembu, Bali, and Zing to ensure more impact in their operations.

    Akunne noted that the command had intensified education and awareness among road users in churches, mosques, motor parks and other public places on the need to ensure safety while on the road.

    On the menace of Tricycle operators popularly called KEKE NAPEP in Jalingo the State capital, Akunne said the State government had set up a task force to contain the excesses of the operators.

  • NYSC recovers last body of drowned corps member in Taraba

    NYSC recovers last body of drowned corps member in Taraba

    The last body of a female corps member was reportedly recovered on Friday by local divers at River Mayo Selbe, in Taraba State.

    The recovery brings to nine the total number of bodies recovered so far.

    Recall the Corps had on Thursday said that it was working on the recovery of the remaining drowned corps member still missing before releasing details of all the nine corps members involved the unfortunate incident.

    Public Relations Officer of the NYSC in Taraba, Mr. Odeh Innuma, disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Jalingo, said, : “We have all the details of the nine corps members involved in that unfortunate picnic tragedy, but it is not in our power to release the information to the media now.

    “At appropriate time, the Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, will release detailed information about the corps members and even publish same in national newspapers.

    “Just yesterday, the DG sent someone to Gashaka where the incident happened and the person has since returned to Abuja. So, we are all waiting to hear from the DG on the next line of action,” he said.

  • Panic as nine NYSC members drown in Taraba river

    Panic as nine NYSC members drown in Taraba river

    Nine corps members serving in Gashaka local government area of Taraba state drowned at a river while on picnic in Taraba State.

    Police said seven bodies were recovered Sunday, 24 hours after the accident. Two more were yet to be recovered.

    Gashaka is near the Mambilla Plateau.

    It was leaent that the sudden increase in the volume of water in River Mayo Celbe, Taraba was responsible for the drowning of nine corps members who were swimming during a picnic party, the police said.

    Police Spokesman David Missal said: “Information available to our disposal reveals that 22 Youth Corps members serving in the state were on a picnic party in River Mayo-Selbe in Gashaka LGA on Saturday when the incident happened.

    “We were made to understand that while they were swimming, there was a sudden increase in the volume of water which carried nine of them away.

    “We have so far recovered Seven corpses while the search for the two remaining corpses is still in progress,” he said.

    State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Florence Yaakugh also confirmed the incident.

    Yaakugh said that the seven bodies have been recovered while the search for the other two bodies was still ongoing by the locals in collaboration with security agencies and the NYSC.

    While describing the incident as most regrettable and unfortunate, Yaakugh said that the NYSC would soon have the identity of all the Corps members involved and make such known appropriately.

    “We have information indicating that about nine of our Corps members were drowned in Gashaka on Saturday.

    “So far, seven bodies have been recovered and we are working with other relevant persons to recover the rest and to identify the persons.

    “This is a very sad development and the entire NYSC family in Taraba state is already thrown into deep mourning”, she said.

  • Many injured, five killed as fresh crisis hits Taraba

    Many injured, five killed as fresh crisis hits Taraba

    Five people were allegedly reported to have lost their lives and many others injured following a clash between Fulani and Yandang communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    An eye witness, Mr Lukman Haruna told Punch that trouble started on Thursday evening when Yandang people on a traditional festival procession were attacked by some Fulani youths in Kunini town, in Lau LGA.

     

    Haruna revealed that the situation was brought under control, following the intervention of stakeholders in the community, but on Friday the situation escalated leading to the killing of five persons.

     

    Haruna said, “Some of the people who participated in the Wailawa Traditional Masquerade Festival initiation were returning home when some Fulani Muslim youths blocked them from passing close to a mosque in the town.

     

    “The situation was brought under control, but the following day, Yandang youths were attacked again at the same spot, leading to the unfortunate crisis which has killed at least five people, injured many others and houses burnt.”

     

    Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. David Missal confirmed the development but said two people were killed and houses destroyed in the crisis.

     

    He said the Commissioner of Police in Taraba, Mr. David Akinremi, on receipt of the information about the crisis quickly deployed additional patrol teams in the area to complement the effort of the Divisional Police officer.

     

    “On arrival, a peace meeting involving community leaders from both sides of the ethnic groups in the area was called and while the meeting was about to start a gunshot was heard from the surrounding communities which heightened the tension in the area, but the police promptly brought the situation to normalcy.

  • 2019: Buhari minister, Alhassan tenders resignation letter

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, has notified President Muhammadu Buhari of her plans to join the race for the Taraba State governorship in 2019.

    The minister, who informed the president of her intention in a letter dated July 27, said she would vie for the governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    There were suggestions that the minister, who is popularly called Mama Taraba, would follow ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar to the PDP.

    The permission she sought from Buhari had laid to rest her planned defection.

    President Buhari had already responded to Mama Taraba’s request saying he was committed to free and fair election.

    The letter sighted by TheNewsGuru.com titled ‘Re- Request for permission to contest for the governorship of Taraba State in the 2019 general elections under our great party, the APC,’ President Buhari said, “Let me thank you on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians for your services as minister under this administration.

    “I note with passion your past contributions to our great party APC during and after the 2015 general elections.

    “As you are aware, I am totally committed to free and fair elections. Our policy is to support all APC candidates. I wish you well in your ambition to be governor of your state. Rest assured that all the security agencies as well as INEC will have my support to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in 2019.”

    It is not clear when the minister would finally resign to pursue her ambition in Taraba. She had contested for the governorship in 2015 and challenged Governor Darius Ishaku up to the Appeal Court.