TheNewsGuru

Tag: Taraba

  • BREAKING: Taraba boils as gunmen murder popular Monarch Mosque

    BREAKING: Taraba boils as gunmen murder popular Monarch Mosque

    Gunmen have attacked a Mosque at Maisamari town in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing Alhaji Abdulkadir Maisamari, a district head.

    According to witnesses, Maisamari was killed during Ishai prayers on Monday night.

    The gunmen reportedly opened fire immediately they stormed the mosque.

    Residents were said to have confronted the gunmen, forcing them to flee into a mountain close to the town.

    A resident, Musa Sale said that some courageous persons confronted the gunmen who forcefully fled.

    The Maisamari incident brings to three the mosques that have been attacked in Taraba state in recent weeks.

    Spokesperson of Taraba Police Command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident but did not give details.

  • NEMA donates medical equipment, food to cholera victims in Taraba

    NEMA donates medical equipment, food to cholera victims in Taraba

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated medical equipment and food items to victims of 2021 Cholera outbreak in Gassol Local Government Area of the state.

    Mr Mustafa Habib, Director General of NEMA, while flagging off the distribution of the items in Mutun Biyu on Monday, said the government had found it necessary to bring succour to the victims of cholera outbreak in the community.

    Habib, represented by Mr Ladan Ayuba, Head of Operations NEMA, Adamawa-Taraba Office, said both the drugs and other medical consumables would be distributed to the primary healthcare centres in the area.

    He said the agency had approved the demand by Sen. Yusuf Yusuf, representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, for the intervention in the supply of both medical equipment and food items to 900 victims of 2021 cholera outbreak in the area.

    The director-general said 250 households were to benefit from the food items, and that the medical equipment would further boost healthcare delivery in the area.

    He advised beneficiaries of the food items not to sell their relief materials to traders.

    Habib also advised residents to be conscious of environmental hygiene to prevent further outbreaks of cholera and other infectious diseases.

    One of the beneficiaries, Ms Blessing Danasabe, thanked the Federal Government for the provision of both medical equipment and food items.

    Danasabe also commended Yusuf for ensuring that the affected communities benefited from such a gesture.

    Another beneficiary, Mr Isa Abubakar, thanked both the senator and NEMA for ensuring delivery of the items.

    He said the materials would go a long way in reducing the hardship caused as a result of the cholera outbreak as well as improving medical care within affected communities.

    Newsmen reports that the distribution, which was peaceful, was witnessed by officials of Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA).

    Newsmen reports that cholera outbreak had claimed several lives and displaced many indigent people of Gassol Local Government Area.

  • 7 operatives injured, vehicle damaged as NDLEA nab Taraba drug baron

    7 operatives injured, vehicle damaged as NDLEA nab Taraba drug baron

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, nabbed a notorious drug baron at Nukai market, along Jalingo-Wukari road in the Taraba state capital, Jalingo, Micha Godwin, during which the anti-narcotic officers came under attack and at least seven of them were injured and one of their vehicles damaged.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a release signed by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi.

    According to the release, the officers however managed to arrest their target after recovering some quantities of illicit drugs from the suspect and thereafter retreated to take the wounded to the hospital for treatment.

    “The operatives following credible intelligence on Tuesday stormed the market at about 2.30pm to arrest the drug dealer and evacuate illicit substances in his warehouse.

    “Soon after the arrest of Micha, miscreants mobilised from the community to attack the officers and vehicles with dangerous weapons.
    A reinforcement from the state Command of the Agency and other security agencies was able to move in to rescue the operatives from the scene of attack.

    In custody, the drug dealer said “what happened today is bad because this is the second time I have been arrested and brought here but the first arrest was not like this. I don’t know who invited the boys who attacked the NDLEA officers”.

    Reacting to the incident, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) condemned the attack and directed immediate switch to new operational guidelines that will make officers and men well positioned to defend themselves adequately in the course of carrying out their duties. He again warned that henceforth any obstruction or attack on NDLEA operatives in line of duty by suspects or their supporters would receive commensurate response.

  • Truck drivers block border between Taraba and Benue states

    Truck drivers block border between Taraba and Benue states

    The border between Taraba and Benue states on Monday were blocked by truck drivers following illegal extortion and illegal checkpoints by security operatives on transported food items and passengers.

    Chairman of the truck drivers, Wukari Branch, Wunuken Hosea, explained that the extortion on the Benue axis of the boundary is contributing to the high cost of grains across the country.

    In his words: “Despite dialogues with security operatives and revenue collectors on agricultural produce, the trend has continued unabated with a huge increase in the amount demanded from us.”

    Hosea pointed out that there is no going back on the blockade until the relevant authorities address their challenges.

    The protest resulted in gridlock on the Taraba and Benue boundary which leads to the South-Eastern and western parts of Nigeria.

    It was gathered that this is not the first time that truck drivers are embarking on such protest at the same spot with little or no effort to address their plights.

  • Insecurity: All 36 governors helpless, depend on federal might for safety of their states – Gov Ishaku

    Insecurity: All 36 governors helpless, depend on federal might for safety of their states – Gov Ishaku

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has said the 36 governors in Nigeria are helpless when it comes to tackling insecurity and so depend overwhelmingly on federal might for intervention.

    Ishaku stated this on Thursday during a monitored Channels Television programme.

    He was of the opinion that the country’s security structure does not leave enough room for governors to deal decisively with criminality in their states because the powers have been vested in the Federal Government.

    “It is not only me that is helpless. All the governors in Nigeria are helpless. And that is why we are saying give us state police,” Ishaku lamented.

    His comments were in response to a recent attack in Taraba by some suspected Ambazonian soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.

    The soldiers are said to have stormed Manga village in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State on Wednesday, killing 11 people including a traditional ruler.

    Takum Local Government Area is a border community between Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.

    The governor in a reaction to the incident said he has complained severally to the Nigerian military, seeking help to secure the border.

    He further stated that his pleas have gone unheard for quite a while, leaving the community prone to attacks such as was recently experienced.

    According to Ishaku, there is little a governor can do in such a case, especially because he does not control the armed forces, neither does he have a state police force specifically put together for the service of the Taraba people.

    “If I have state police, I would have ordered the police. All the governors are helpless, not only Darius Ishaku that is helpless; not only Taraba State that is helpless. Go and ask other governors and tell me any who has a solution to this. We have to depend on Federal might” he explained.

    In forging a way forward, Governor Ishaku called for the military to help man Taraba’s ‘long-stretch’ border with Cameroon.

    “Taraba has one of the longest borders with Cameroon. There is an absolute need that this our boundary must be manned by security agencies. The military, precisely, must man it,” the governor argued.

    “Because they (the separatists) are well armed, they are a separatist group, and when they kill, they run away. So it is not an easy thing, it has to be the military to man the border.”

    After Wednesday’s attack, the Governor said the military and police have now moved into the attacked community.

    He expressed hopes that fleeing villagers can now return after Nigerian security officials were deployed to the area.

  • Cameroonian soldiers storm Taraba community, kill traditional ruler, 10 others

    Cameroonian soldiers storm Taraba community, kill traditional ruler, 10 others

    Residents of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State on Wednesday were left in panic mode when some suspected Ambazonian soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon stormed the community.

    According to reports, 11 persons including a traditional ruler were killed in the incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday at Manga village.

    Takum local government area is a border community between Taraba State and the Republic of Cameroon.

    Joseph Manga, the brother of the slain traditional ruler and the Senior Special Assistant to the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, confirmed the incident.

    He disclosed that the Ambazonian soldiers first attacked the border community in Cameroon republic before crossing over to Nigeria to unleash mayhem.

    “The Ambazonian separatist soldiers attacked my village Manga which is a border community between Taraba State and Republic of Cameroon in Takum LGA,” he said.

    “They, first of all, attacked a village on the other side of the divide and killed people before crossing over to do the same here.

    “My elder brother is the traditional ruler there; they laid ambush and killed him in his palace before proceeding to kill others.

    “The death toll at the moment is 11 including my brother the traditional ruler, we are still combing the bush to recover more bodies or possibly those hiding.”

    Other residents of the community are said to still be missing as they are suspected to have fled to other communities for safety.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Shiban Tikari disclosed that as at when he visited the scene in the early hours of today after receiving the distress call, only five dead bodies were recovered.

    He said, “I can confirm to you that we have so far recovered 5 bodies from the scene and others are still been sort for in nearby bush.

    “My team alongside the military visited to restore normalcy and ensure that such thing does not repeat itself.

    “For now we do not know those that came to attack but news filtered in saying that they are Ambazonian separatist soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.”

  • APC Congresses: Delegates elect new executives in states; exercise postponed indefinitely in Taraba

    APC Congresses: Delegates elect new executives in states; exercise postponed indefinitely in Taraba

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have elected new executive committee members to pilot the affairs of the party in various states of the federation.

    This follows the party’s state congresses conducted on Saturday (today) in various states of the federation.

    While the exercise went smoothly in some states, others witnessed the emergence of two sets of officials as a result of the parallel elections held.

    Among the states where the exercise went smoothly was the Lagos chapter of the party. There, members adopted the voice vote approach to elect a new set of executive members.

    The election of the candidates for the 36 positions at the congress took place at the Onikan Stadium in the Lagos Island area of the state.

    Party leaders at the congress include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, and some members of the National Assembly.

    They are the lawmaker representing Lagos Central district, Oluremi Tinubu, and a member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke, among others.

    Chairman of the Election Organising Committee, Adebayo Adelabu, explained that 35 out of the 36 positions were returned unopposed.

    He added that 37 forms were received for the office of the state chairman, but only two candidates were screened for the position.

    Adelabu, said while one was disqualified, the committee was left with the option of one candidate for the position of the chairman.

    He stated that the guidelines set by the national leadership of the party for the state congress had been met before going ahead to throw open the voice vote option which was unanimously adopted by the delegates who thundered their approval from the pavilions.

    Thereafter, a former member of the House in the 6th Assembly and former Commissioner for Rural Development in Lagos, Cornelius Ojelabi, emerged as the state chairman of the APC.

    In his acceptance speech, Ojelabi promised to work assiduously with other executives to return the governor of Lagos state in 2023.

    In Yobe, the immediate past Treasurer of the state chapter of the party, Mohammed Gadaka, emerged as the new chairman alongside 35 other executive members.

    This followed the announcement by the Election Committee Chairman, Osita Izunaso, that the party had unanimously adopted a consensus for the 36 positions of the party.

    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, monitored the exercise alongside the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Yobe, Ahmed Makama.

    The exercise held at the Government House in Damaturu, the state capital.

    Elsewhere, delegates from the 18 local government areas of Ondo voted the acting state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, to champion the APC in the state.

    Alaye Adesina and Agabra Atile also emerged as secretary and deputy chairman at the congress held at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure.

    The Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, monitored the exercise on behalf of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. While the Congress Committee Chairman, Komral Longap, welcomed the delegates, the team’s secretary, Segun Olamibi, announced that voting would be by consensus.

    The new executive members were later adopted by an APC chieftain, Jamiu Ekungba, on behalf of the party, an action that was seconded by a member of the House of Representatives from Owo/Ose Constituency, Timehin Adelegbe.

    Adetimehin, in his acceptance speech, thanked the leadership and members of the party for their support and promised that the new executive members would serve the APC with total commitment.

    Just like in other states, APC members in Kaduna adopted the consensus option to elect new state executive committee members.

    This led to the emergence of Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada as the state chairman, while some former officials of the party were returned unopposed.

    The Congress Committee Chairman, Abubakar Moddibo, explained that the consensus option adopted by the state chapter was in line with the party’s constitution.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai; his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe; Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, and others attended the Congress held at the Murtala Mohammed Square in the Kaduna state capital.

    The congress was also monitored by INEC officials led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna.

    Party suffers setback in Taraba State

    Meanwhile, as the congress held in Ogun, Niger, and other states, it suffered a setback in Taraba where the exercise was rescheduled indefinitely.

    APC spokesman in the state, Bulus Gago, confirmed the development on Saturday. No reason was given for the postponement of the state congress.

    But, on Wednesday, some stakeholders of the party threatened to boycott the congress, as well as file a suit if their grievances were not addressed.

    These include the inability of the national headquarters to publish winners of the ward and local government congresses, alleged hijacking of the party structure by some bigwigs, among others.

  • 30-day ultimatum: Fulani herdsmen visit Emir of Muri, take oath

    30-day ultimatum: Fulani herdsmen visit Emir of Muri, take oath

    The Leadership of Fulani herders in Taraba has pledged to weed out criminal elements among them within five months.

    The leadership of the herders made the promise after the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, issued 30 days ultimatum for herders terrorizing the state to vacate the forest or be forced to do so.

    However, the leadership of the herders comprised of Ardos and Fulani community leaders drawn from 14 out the 16 local government areas of the state visited the emir today at his palace to clarify the issue.

    They told the emir that they have done series of meetings and vowed to crush the criminal elements among their groups.

    The herders, led by the State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Sahabi Mahmud, said they agreed not to harbour criminals even if they are their biological children.

    The herders said they have also sworn to an oath to expose the sponsors of Fulani terrorists no matter their standing in society.

    They pleaded with the Emir to accept their pledge and give them time to fulfil their promises.

    The Miyetti Allah Chairman read out the pledge which was contained in a communique issued after a stakeholders’ meeting that lasted for several hours.

    The meeting was attended by the harders and their Ardos and Jauros across the state as well as the Security Adviser to Gov. Darius Ishaku, rtd Col. Angyo Agbu.

    The communique read in part: “Those who repent would be documented, while those that refused to repent and stop kidnapping and other crimes would equally be handed over to security agents to face the appropriate laws of the land.

    “We have agreed not to harbour criminals even if they are our biological children and we have sworn to an oath to expose their sponsors no matter their standing in the society.”

    The harders maintained that the task of carrying out the assignment was very huge but absolutely necessary in order to sanitize the Fulani herdsmen and restore their damaged image caused by the criminal activities of a few of them.

    In his response, the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, said the marching orders he gave during recent Eid-el-Kabir celebrations were targeted at criminal elements among the herdsmen.

    Tafida said it became necessary for him to issue such orders in view of the increasing rate of kidnapping being committed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    He said as a leader who stood firmly on the side of the truth and honesty, he would never allow injustice among his subjects.

    He lamented that the image of the Fulani as a race was endangered by the criminal activities of a few among them whom he alleged were involved in kidnapping and other criminals activities.

    He said that he should not be misunderstood in his comments, adding that it was intended to sanitise the conduct of Fulani herdsmen who are his kinsmen.

    “As you know the Fulani have continued to be proud of the scholarship of leaders like Shehu Usman Danfodio and Sultan Muhammadu Bello who reformed and spread Islam and ensured justice for all in Northern Nigeria but the integrity of the Fulani as moulded by these past leaders was fast fading away because of the activities of the criminal elements, ” the emir stated.

    He also cited Modibbo Buba Yero, the founder of the Muri Emirate, as an exemplary leader of Fulani that fought injustice.

    “Those were role models of the Fulani who never associated themselves with shame and who distanced their ethnic groups from crime and criminality,” he said.

    Tafida wondered how the Fulani race was today degenerating abysmally and was fast becoming a reference point in crime and criminality.

    “There is no limit to the steps a father can take to correct the bad behavior of his children,” he said.

    He commended the leadership of the Fulani for taking the bold steps to weed out criminals amongst them.

    He, however, directed that a list of those that repented and those that refused to repent be submitted to him when the sorting out the task was completed.

  • Vacate our forests in 30 days, Taraba Emir orders herdsmen

    Vacate our forests in 30 days, Taraba Emir orders herdsmen

    The Emir of Muri Empire in Taraba State, Abbas Tafida has issued a 30-day ultimatum to herders terrorizing residents of the state to vacate forests within the state or be forced to do so.

    The Emir gave the ultimatum on Tuesday after Eid prayers.

    This follows a rising spate of kidnappings, killings, and attacks in the state by criminals suspected to be herders.

    He claimed that Fulani herders are responsible for perpetrating crimes in the state and should therefore vacate forests in the state within 30 days or be forced out.

    The Emir who spoke in the Hausa language urged the leadership of Fulani Herdsmen to fish out the bad eggs among them.

    “Our Fulani herdsmen in the forests, you came into this state and we accepted you, why then will you be coming to towns and villages to kidnap residents, even up to the extent of raping our women?

    “Because of this unending menace, every Fulani herdsman in this state have been given thirty days ultimatum to vacate the forests.

    “We are tired of having sleepless nights and the hunger alone in the land is enormous and we will not allow it to continue,” the Emir said.

  • Heavy downpour, ‘water from Cameroon dam’ submerge over 300 buildings in Taraba

    Heavy downpour, ‘water from Cameroon dam’ submerge over 300 buildings in Taraba

    Over 300 buildings have been submerged in a flood that ravaged several communities in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

    According to residents, the flooding commenced on Saturday morning, in the wake of a heavy downpour.

    They also pointed fingers pointed at the release of water from Labdo dam in Cameroon.

    No life has been reported lost but residents watched helplessly as business centres, vehicles, worship centres and schools were submerged by the flood.

    Red cross officials have arrived the flooded areas to provide emergency help for affected residents.

    Some residents of the flooded area called for the government to assist in rebuilding their homes and provide relief materials to cushion the pain of their losses.

    Meanwhile, Chairman of Jalingo local government, Nasiru Boboji, appealed to the Federal Government to collaborate with Cameroon, in order to intimate residents whenever the Labdo dam will be opened to avoid such casualties.