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Tag: Taraba

  • Reps call for adequate security presence in Taraba over communal clash

    By Gabriel Okoro Abuja
    The House of Representatives has urged Security Agencies in particular, the Nigerian Army, to increase its presence and intervene in the crisis being experienced in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
    The call emanated from a motion Co-sponsored by Mr Danjuma Shiddi from Taraba State and Mr Udende Emmanuel from Benue State during plenary on Tuesday.
    Raising the motion, Mr Emmanuel informed the House that, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State has become unstable because of communal clashes between the Tiv and the Jukuns.
    The lawmaker stated that, the clashes started from a disagreement between two persons from the two Ethnic Groups, noting that, not less that ten thousand persons have fled their homes due to the crisis and their belongings destroyed, thereby making them Internally Displaced Persons.
    Contributing to debate on the motion, Mr Simon Arabor from Kaduna State, condemned the killings saying its senseless and called for speedy apprehension of perpetrators of the heinous crime.
    Adding his voice, Mr Istifanus Gyang called for peaceful resolution mechanism to solving the crisis adding that violence is not an option.
    The House thereby urged the National Emergency Management Agency and the Presidential Committee on North East to, as a matter of urgency, provide relief materials to the victims.
    In a unanimous voice vote, the House adopted the motion and urged Security Agencies to apprehend perpetrators of the crime and bring them to book, as well as, determine the underlying causes of the crisis with a view to proffering lasting solution.

  • Buhari condemns fresh ethnic clashes in Taraba, Adamawa, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the latest needless violent clashes between Jukuns and Tivs in Taraba State; and Fulani, Genjon and Bachama in Adamawa resulting in arson, injuries and deaths.

    Buhari said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday.

    He said: “Violence and bloodshed for whatever reason is unacceptable and condemnable, especially when it is coming as the nation celebrates Easter, with all the lessons of love and peace for humanity.

    ”Violence has not and cannot be the solution to the resolution of misunderstandings among the people.

    “Once we abandon reason and good judgement, we are giving violence the chance to take over and make a bad situation more complicated and difficult to resolve.’’

    The president maintained that the “primary initiative for ending violence once and for all must originate from the local actors involved in these clashes.”

    Buhari reassured Nigerians that his administration would not rest on its oars to provide security for all.

    He said government would at the same time “engage in dialogue with local stakeholders in order to get to the root of the crises.”

    The president mandated a religious group involved in stitching up broken relationships between communities in Plateau State to work with security agencies in reconciling communities in Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa states.

    “The President has also directed the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons to scale up their efforts in bringing succour to displaced people.

    “President Buhari assured that immediate intervention by the military has brought calm back to communities,” the statement quoted Buhari as saying.

  • Many feared dead as Jukun, Tiv tribes clash in Taraba

    Many feared dead as Jukun, Tiv tribes clash in Taraba

    Many were feared killed on Saturday in a fresh crisis between Jukun and Tiv tribes in Wukari, south of Taraba State.

    Fleeing residents said many houses were razed and several people injured in the clashes.

    According to a report by Premium Times, the conflict has affected some villages belonging to both tribes along Wukari Kwatan Sule, Chonku and border communities of Jootar and Vaase.

    A Jukun community leader, Bako Benjamin, said despite the peace accord reached last week between the two warring communities, “Tiv ethnic militias have continued to launch pockets of attacks on our communities.”

    “Just this morning in the wee hours, they struck at Chonku firing sporadically and razed down houses. They attacked four of our communities in the last three days and as I am talking to you, corpses of 15 people killed by Tiv militias have been deposited in Wukari and we have compiled their names.”

    However, Orbee Uchiv, a Tiv spokesman, denied this.

    “Our people are being attacked by Jukun ethnic militias in recent times. A peace meeting at Jootar, a border town between Benue and Taraba States convened by one Rev Father Dankaro and other priests to sue for peace was truncated.

    ‘’Thursday morning, Vaase, a border town was attacked by Jukuns. More than 12 people were killed. Probably on reprisal this morning, Chonku, a border Jukun settlement, was attacked.

    “As I am talking to you now, looting, arson and killing within and around villages of Tiv people is going on and hundreds of Tivs have fled to Benue state,’’ he said.

    It was gathered that the misunderstanding was due to a long standing dispute between the two ethnic groups and it centered on cultural heritage.

    The chairman of Wukari local government area, Daniel Adi, confirmed the outbreak of crisis in the area.

    He also said many were feared killed and houses burnt in the last five days of fighting.

    “I have since reached out to the Chairman of Ukum local government in neighbouring Benue and the Security Adviser to the Benue Governor and we are making efforts to stop the escalation of the crisis,” he said.

    Reports also indicate that commercial activities have come to a halt at the popular Wukari Yam Market as shops were looted.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, David Misal, said security operatives “were on the top of the situation”.

    “Security operatives have been deployed in the affected areas, though I am yet to confirm casualty figures in the latest attacks,” he said.

  • Road accident kills 19, injures 38 in Katsina – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that no fewer than 19 persons died and 38 persons injured in a ghastly road accident on Daudawa-Funtua road in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Godwin Ngeuku, made the confirmation to newsmen on Friday in Katsina.

    He said that incident happened on Friday morning at Daudawa, few kilometres to Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State involving a Mitsubishi canter vehicle.

    The sector commander said that the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle while speeding, thereby skidded up the road, somersaulted and killed some passengers instantly.

    He said that the vehicle, with registration number DKA 654 ZP, was on its way to Sokoto axis with about 57 passengers when the incident occurred.

    The sector commander said that FRSC rescue team immediately rushed to the scene of the accident and took the injured persons to Funtua General Hospital for medical attention and evacuated the corpses.

    Ngueku urged drivers to desist from overloading, speeding and continue to abide by the traffic rules and regulations as part of measures to avert crashes on the highways.

    The Chairman of Funtua Local Government Area, Malam Lawal Sani, who expressed sadness.

  • Taraba residents flee over death of soldiers

    Residents of Shinkai Village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State have fled their homes following a threat to raze down the village over the alleged killing of a soldier.

    According to Malam Labaran Abdu, the leader of the community, armed men in military uniform stormed the village on Sunday, March 24, 2019, and alleged that one of their men was killed in the suburb of Shinkai and his rifle taken away.

    “The community leaders in Shinkai told the armed men that they knew nothing about the incident, but they threatened that they will wipe off the village if the killers and the stolen rifle were not produced within three days,”

    Abdul told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday.

    “As a result of the threat, residents of Shinkai and surrounding villages have crossed over to Awe, Tunga, Terkura and Lafiya in the neighbouring Nassarawa State to take refuge,” he said.

    Labaran said that the incident the armed men claimed had led to the death of their member took place about 15 kilometre away from Shinkai, and wondered why the people of Shinkai should be made to bear the burden.

    Reacting to the incident, Mr Simon Dogari, Taraba information commissioner, told NAN that he had received reports that there was tension in Shinkai village after a clash between herdsmen and some armed men believed to be soldiers from “Operation Whirl stroke”, who were on special patrol from neighboring Benue State.

    He said that the report had claimed that there was a clash between the two groups which left ‘one man with uniform dead”.

    Dogari, however, wondered why the suspected military personnel, whose operational area was Benue, had crossed into Taraba and clashed with herdsmen.

    He said that a Special Adviser to Governor Darius Ishaku, and the Chairman of Wukari Local Government Area, have been asked to investigate the issue and report back.

    The Commissioner appealed to the people of Shinkai and its environs to remain calm as the state government was working round the clock to nip the problem in the bud.

    Similarly, Mr Bala Dan-Abu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Taraba on media, who described the death of the military man as unfortunate, urged the authorities to follow due process in redressing the issue.

    “Two wrongs cannot make a right; instead of attacking the village, thorough investigation should be carried out to identity the suspected killers.”

    He called for calm among all concerned, saying that all hands were on deck toward resolving the matter through dialogue.

    Efforts to speak with the Police authorities in Taraba proved abortive, but a senior official of the command said that the matter was being investigated.

  • Supplementary poll: One killed, houses burnt as violence erupts in Taraba

    Supplementary poll: One killed, houses burnt as violence erupts in Taraba

    At least one person has been confirmed dead and houses burnt in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba state ahead of the supplementary election in the Ussa State Constituency Assembly seat on Friday evening.

    Vice Chairman of Ussa Local Government Area, Hon. Rikupki Joshua, confirmed this development in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

    “To the best of my knowledge, one person was killed, scores were injured and houses were burnt in Ussa yesterday (Friday).

    “But the situation is now calm and the supplementary election scheduled to hold in some units in the constituency is going on as planned.

    “We condemn this violence and hope that those behind the unfortunate development will see politics as service to the people and not a do or die affair,” he said.

    When contacted, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alkasim Sanusi, said he was not aware of any report on the development in Ussa.

  • Taraba poll: Aggrieved politicians killing innocent people because I won, Ishaku cries out

    Taraba poll: Aggrieved politicians killing innocent people because I won, Ishaku cries out

    The Taraba State government on Friday cried out that innocent people were being killed since the day Governor Darius Ishaku was declared winner of the governorship election in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information, Simon Dogari, who briefed reporters on the incidents trailing the outcome of the election, said the attacks were being masterminded by the opposition parties who lost at the polls.

    He said the attacks were intended to give the impression that the governorship election in the state was not credible.

    Dogari said: “There have been several cases of attacks on innocent and defenceless people in Jalingo by miscreants hired and armed by those who lost the elections.

    “Their intention is to create tension and anarchy in the state such that the impression would be created that the elections were not credible.

    “The state government is happy that this motive has not been achieved. We give the credit to God and to all the good people of Taraba State who have ignored the call to arms and have in various ways helped to defuse tension rather than yield to the temptation to react violently.

    “The elections were generally free, fair and peaceful. There were no major incidents, as voting took place in all the centres.

    “It is also instructive that one of the major contestants in the gubernatorial election, Senator Aisha Alhassan, also rated the election as free, fair and credible, even though she lost.

    “Yet, the main opposition group has embarked on a mission of organising armed youths to confront people who came out in their numbers to celebrate the PDP victory.

    “The most unfortunate and dangerous dimension to this campaign was the religious colour their group tried to assign to the crisis.

    “It is disheartening that a man who is aspiring to a high position of leadership of this state would resort to religious bigotry to achieve his ambition.

    “Again, we thank God and the larger section of the populace for refusing to cooperate with him to cause more tension and damage to lives and properties.”

    He said that Governor Darius Ishaku “deeply appreciates the contributions of all the good people of the state in achieving peace and wishes to thank everybody, including Christian and Muslim leaders, who have been part of the peace building process.”

    The state government said it would ensure that all law abiding people are protected in order to go about their lawful activities without molestation.

    “Governor Ishaku also wishes to remind all of you that peace is the bedrock on which every positive human endeavour can thrive, hence his peace mantra: Give me peace and I will give you development.

    “We urge you to refuse to be used as political thugs, to shun violence and all forms of drug abuse and to support the government to build that future you deserve.”

  • Ishaku extends curfew on Jalingo to 24 hours

    Ishaku extends curfew on Jalingo to 24 hours

    Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Tuesday ordered the extension of the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on Jalingo, Taraba capital, to 24 hours.

    This was contained in a statement by Mr Bala Dan Abu, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity on Monday in Jalingo.

    The governor directed all security agencies in the state to ensure strict enforcement of the curfew.

    According the statement, the curfew remained in force until further notice.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that wide jubilation greeted the declaration of Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the governorship election.

    The celebration quickly turned violent with throwing of stones and destruction of property by hoodlums.

  • BREAKING: INEC declares PDP’s Governor Ishaku winner of Taraba governorship election

    BREAKING: INEC declares PDP’s Governor Ishaku winner of Taraba governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Darius Ishaku, as the winner of the 2019 governorship election held on Saturday in Taraba State.

    The Returning Officer for the election, Shehu Iya, at about 3.50 a.m. Tuesday at the INEC office in Jalingo pronounced Mr Ishiaku, who is the incumbent governor, as the winner having satisfied the requirement of the law.

    Mr Iya, a professor at the Modibo Adama University, Yola, announced that the PDP scored a total vote of 520, 433 while the All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded 362, 735 across the 16 LGAs.

    The PDP has never lost a governorship election in Taraba State since 1999.

    According to the breakdown of the results from the 16 LGAs, the PDP won 12 LGAs while the APC candidate, Sani Danladi claimed victory in the four other LGAs.

    PDP’s biggest tally was recorded in Wukari LGA where the party pulled a total of 92,527 while the APC had 34,995 votes

    The PDP also had it nice in Takum LGA where the present governor hails from as they recorded 50,562 votes compared to APC’s 14,014.

    For the APC, their biggest win was in Jalingo LGA where the party got 58,511 compared to the PDP’s 31,917

    Before the declaration of results, Bala Dan Abu, Senior Special Assistant to the Taraba State Governor on Media and Publicity told PREMIUM TIMES that his principal had been preparing for the just concluded election since his first day in office

    “It is an election we are well-prepared for, the governor started preparing for this election right from his first day in office by working very hard to make his re-election as easy as possible…” he said

    In all, the Total Registered Voters for Saturday’s election was 1, 777, 105 while the Total Accredited Voters were 931539.

    The valid votes from Saturday’s polls were 909,716 and the total votes cast was 925320.

    The rejected votes across the 16 LGAs were 15604.

    Final Results of the 16 LGAs released

    1) GASSOL L G A

    APC: 46,385

    PDP: 28,181

    UDP: 1577

    2) Zing LGA

    APC: 7105

    PDP: 31,619

    UDP: 699

    3) ARDO-KOLA LGA

    APC: 19,617

    PDP: 22,208

    UDP: 576

    4) YORRO LGA

    APC: 6,712

    PDP: 16,278

    UDP: 725

    5) LAU LGA

    APC; 12,542

    PDP; 20,881

    UDP 659

    6) USSA LGA

    APC: 10,209

    PDP: 20,567

    UDP: 1,795

    7) TAKUM L G A

    APC: 14,014

    PDP: 50,562

    UDP: 1676

    8) GASHAKA L G A

    APC:10,746

    PDP: 12,592

    UDP: 505

    9) JALINGO L G A

    APC: 58,511

    PDP: 31,917

    UDP: 1698

    10) BALI L G A

    APC: 31,357

    PDP: 34,744

    UDP: 476

    11) IBI L G A

    APC: 18,616

    PDP: 13,630

    UDP: 253

    12) DONGA L G A

    APC: 13,707

    PDP: 42,696

    UDP: 1834

    13) Wukari LGA

    APC: 34,995

    PDP: 92,527

    UDP: 1638

    14. Kurmi LGA

    APC: 3815

    PDP: 28,519

    UDP: 595

    15. Karim Lamido LGA

    APC: 44, 480

    PDP: 34, 892

    UDP : 1327

    16. Sardauna

    APC: 29, 924

    PDP: 38, 618

    UDP: 256

  • Just In: Court disqualifies Taraba APC gubernatorial candidate

    Just In: Court disqualifies Taraba APC gubernatorial candidate

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo has disqualified the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Taraba State, Sani Danladi.

    According to reports, Danladi was disqualified from participating in the election on Saturday over an improper declaration of age.

    He was alleged to have falsified his age in the documents which Danladi supplied to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Details soon…