Taraba IDPs stages protest, demands justice after 7 years in camps

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The displaced population of Tiv extraction in Wukari LGA of Taraba state, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest after 7 years in IDP camps.

The displaced Tiv community called on the federal and international communities to intervene and ensure justice in their situation to enable them to return to their ancestral homes.

The IDPs said, life has become unbearable, since the means of livelihood have been denied since 2019.

Addressing journalists after the protest in Kyado Benue state, Hon. Terhile Ahur, leader of the displaced persons taken refuge in the area, blamed the Taraba state, Wukari LGA and the Wukari traditional council for their uncooperative stands to ensure the return of the displaced Tiv population.

Ahur informed that while over one hundred and fifty thousand Tiv people in the Local Government have been displaced, and are taking refuge in Benue state, over 300 churches, 70 schools and 30 primary health care facilities belonging to Tiv have also been destroyed.

"It started like a mere clash between Jukun and Tiv in Kente village of Wukari in 2019. The situation escalated to what we are seeing as a deliberate genocide against the Tivs in the area.

The IDP leader lamented that all efforts made to resolve the crisis and enable displaced persons return to their ancestral homes were unsuccessful, due to the Seeming complicity of both Wukari and the Taraba State governments in the crisis.

Hon. Ahur also alleged that the Tiv people are tagged in the local government as "settlers", while their ancestral lands have been taken over and shared by the Jukuns and their allies.

"For the past seven (7) years, all efforts to return to our ancestral homes and farms in Wukari Local Government have proved abortive due to the seeming complicity of both the Local and State governments in the crisis.

"Our ancestral homes and farms have been taken over and shared by the Jukuns and their allies, with tacit support from both the Local and State Governments. Today, we have been tagged as "settlers" in the Wukari Local Government Area". He lamented.

The IDP leader emphasises that the political history of the area has proven beyond any contradiction that the Tivs were genuine indigens of Wukari LGA and Taraba at large.

"The history of our indigenship in Wukari and Taraba in general is clear". He insisted.

He disclosed that the history in most parts of the state was beyond the colonial period.

"In most parts of Taraba State, the history of Tiv existence is much beyond the colonial period. In the 1959 General Elections during the colonial era, Hon. Charles Tangul Gaza, a Tiv man, contested along with a Jukun man, Hon. Ibrahim Sangarı Usman, for the Wukari Seat in the Federal House of Representatives and won under the UMBC.

"Similarly, after independence, Hon. David Tagherga Mtuem and Hon.

Simon Ảwua contested and won as a member of the defunct Gongola State House of Assembly in 1979 and was re-elected in 1983. Hon. Iyoltyer Musa, a Tiv man, was appointed by the late Governor Abubakar Barde of the defunct

Gongola State, as Chairman of the Wukari local government in 1982. Similarly, Hon. Shinja Abako, a Tiv man, was also elected as Vice Chairman of Wukari Local Government Area in 1986. We demand an answer to the settler status". They clarify.

The IDPs also accused the Nigerian army of being complicit in the crisis.

"We want the entire world to know that the Nigerian army is complicit in our situation. In most of our villages in Wukari Local Government, Military Check Points have been strategically located, not for general peace but to deter our people from returning to their homes.

"We wish to inform the world that the killings against us in the local government are not just an eviction agenda, but a well-coordinated genocidal agenda against the Tiv and the Church. We call on the international Community, the Federal Government of Nigeria to act fast in order to stop the gross abuse of our Fundamental Human Rights.

"We wish to draw the attention of the International Community to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of genocide in 1948. We wish to state that our situation is more than genocide, and we want the authorities to act fast.

"We call on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the activities of his men deployed to Wukari Local Government for peacekeeping". The IDPs asserted.

While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to facilitate their safe return to ancestral homes and farms, the IDPs call for the replacement of independent and unbiased security personnel to protect the Tiv on their return. They also call for the provision of relief materials to ease their hardship.

2027: Nyameh returns to PDP, declares bid to unseat Kefas

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, Prof. Jerome Nyameh, has returned to the party months after his resignation and declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election.

Nyameh, who had earlier left the PDP citing unresolved internal crises, said his decision to return followed recent developments indicating that the issues had largely been resolved.

He made this known while addressing journalists in Jalingo on Saturday.

The professor noted that he had completed his PDP e-registration, urging residents of Taraba State to also register, assuring that the platform is secure.

He expressed confidence in his chances, vowing to unseat the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas and restore what he described as the state’s lost glory.

"By God’s grace, I will contest for the governorship of Taraba State under the platform of the PDP in 2027. I have completed my PDP e-registration membership," he said.

"Following the judgment delivered on the 9th of this month, it is clear that the issues within the party are almost resolved. The court advised parties to settle out of court, and that is a welcome development. That is why some of us who left have now returned."

On his chances at the polls, Nyameh said the adoption of direct primaries would favour candidates with grassroots support.

"I will definitely win because I am with the people. With direct primaries, popularity will count," he added.

He also called on Tarabans and residents of the state to take advantage of the PDP e-registration exercise, reiterating that the process is safe and credible.

Howai District Calls for Support as New Security Post Takes Off in Kpantinapo

 

By Thomas Samuel 

Residents of Howai District in Kona Chiefdom have been urged to support the newly established security outpost in the area.

The District Head of Howai, Michael Vakkai, made the appeal in an interview with our reporter in Jalingo.

He disclosed that the district recently commissioned a hunters’ security office in Kpantinapo, describing its location as strategic in supporting the military to contain potential security threats.

Vakkai noted that the hunters require both moral and financial support from residents to function effectively.

On investment and job creation, the district head commended Governor Agbu Kefas for introducing policies that facilitated the siting of a waste management and processing company in Kpantinapo.

He expressed optimism that once fully operational, the company would create jobs and contribute to the government’s efforts toward environmental sustainability.

Bandits Kill Three Police Officers, Vigilante Leader in Taraba Attack

 

Thomas Samuel 

The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three police officers and a local vigilante leader following a deadly attack by suspected bandits on Tse Kwe Village in Donga Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, the incident was reported by a resident, Zaki Orbanga, from Tordamisa Akate Ward, who alerted authorities to the invasion of the community by armed assailants.

The statement said a joint team of police officers, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Donga alongside operatives of a special force unit, was swiftly mobilized to the scene to restore order and protect residents.

However, the encounter claimed the lives of three officers identified as Corporal Raphael Danjuma, Police Constable Ebenezer Daniel, and Police Constable Samuel Bawa. Bawa was initially declared missing during the operation before his body was later discovered in a nearby bush after a search effort.

The attack also left a sixty-year-old community vigilante leader, Nutsa Tyav, dead. He was the Chairman of the Vigilante Group in Tordamisa Village.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Betty Enepen Isokpan  expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the officers and the vigilante member, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

The Command extended condolences to the bereaved families and assured that the sacrifices of the deceased would not be in vain.

Meanwhile, the police said security has been reinforced in the affected area, with intensified operations underway to track down and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The Command also called on residents to remain calm and support security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing investigations.

TSU ASUU Strike: Gov Kefas approves N500m

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas has approved  N500 million for the Taraba State University Jalingo.

The State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, made the position known while interacting with Newsmen in Jalingo on Monday.

According to the Commissioner, Dr Agbu noted that the additional N300 million is in addition to the previous N200 million he had earlier approved last week, totalling N500 million. He pleaded with the Academy Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off the strike to enable the institution to resume its activities.

Dr Mike explained that, "The governor inherited the salaries of about two years, Earned Academic Allowance and Administrative Allowance for the non-academy staff amounting to over four billion (4,000,000,000).

"On the 12/3/2026, the governor after meeting with the union leaders approved the sum of over N3billion and immediately gave approval for N200,000,000 be released to them, and assured ASUU that starting from April N100,000,000 monthly will be releasing to settle the backlog of the demands of this union and today he approved additional N300,000,000 upfront that will covere the month of April, May and June respectively.

"In assumption of office, he assured them that he was going to pay and the government paid over one billion N1,000,000,000 for now, and we entered into an agreement with them that contains other demands that bother the welfare of Academy and non-academy staff ranging from the issue of lack of promotion for academy staff, nonpayment of salary and their promotion areas.

"Immediately we came on board we sworn into action, they were Seven demands brought by the academy union and the non-academy staff union, and all the seven demands were discussed and solved, five of them were completely settled, then the two major demands that were left is the issue of pension and gratuities, payment of backlog of salary areas and the EAA and AA. When the governor came in, he proved the point of agreement where two hundred million was released to them, and there was an agreement that the government will release the sum of N50 million monthly until such a time that the entire thing will be settled.

"Be it as it may, the situation we have in this country the income or resources at the disposal of the government is not consistent, its fluctuate, even what we get from the federal account is not consistent and there are competing demands, look at insecurity, it is consuming the resources we have in the State.

"When the government slashed the school fees by 50% which is the main revenue, the government decided to take over the entire payment of salaries which was Three hundred and Eight million (308,000,000) per month to Six hundreds and thirty seven million, eighteen thousand four hundreds and fourthy four naira, ninety seven Kobo per month because of the implementation of the new minimum wage which is the highest paid institution in the northern Nigeria," he said.

Highlighting some of the governor's achievements in the university, Dio noted that, Dr Agbu Kefas had earlier spent over N2b for the renovation of the hostels and N400,000,000 was expended for the building of the new hostel in the institution also gave approval of over N1.43b was given to release for the accreditation of courses in the six higher institutions in the state.

CSO advocate improved health service delivery in Taraba

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Association of Civil Society Organisations in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has l carried out a two-day advocacy visit to key government health agencies to close the gap in health service delivery in Taraba State. 

Alh Mohammed Tanko Danburam, Team Lead, emphasised during the advocacy in Jalingo that patients are being forced to travel to other facilities or purchase medicines from private pharmacies, increasing costs and delaying access to care.

He explained that the visits is aimed to present community feedback on gaps affecting malaria, maternal health, and HIV services.

According to Danburam, the team engaged four agencies, including the Taraba State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Development Agency where they presented the absence of ultrasound scanner services at Nyaja Primary Health Care Centre and stock-outs of malaria treatment commodities.

He said that the affected facilities include First Referral Hospital Sunkani and Manji PHC, Gassol LGA, and Denden Primary Health Care Centre in Donga LGA. The team also highlighted shortages of HIV testing kits at Lufu PHC in Takum LGA.

Danburam stressed that addressing these gaps is critical to strengthening community health systems and ensuring residents have access to life-saving interventions.

"We are representing community voices, and the lack of Malaria and HIV compels patients to travel to other facilities or purchase medicines from private pharmacies, thereby increasing costs and delaying timely access to care," he said.

Responding, Malaria focal person Mr. Muhammad Mahmud of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Coordinator, Logistics Management Coordinating Unit, Pharm. Ada Frank, and Mr. Bala Zungyeri, Secretary, Taraba State AIDS Control Agency, all noted with concern that the issues will be investigated and acted upon within the shortest period.

Many Farmers May Quit Farming This Year – AFAN Chairman

 

By Hannah  Theophilus 

The Taraba State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Saliu Adamu Kumba, has revealed that a large number of farmers may abandon farming this year.

Kumba disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Jalingo, attributing the development to the declining prices of food commodities, which he said have created serious challenges for agricultural investment and caused severe hardship for farmers.

He, however, encouraged farmers to continue farming using the resources available to them in order to ensure food sufficiency in the state and the country at large.

Kumba stressed that many farmers can no longer afford fertilizers, tractors, and other farm inputs due to their rising costs.

He reiterated that farmers need empowerment, encouragement, and greater government attention to help tackle hunger and prevent famine in the state.

The AFAN chairman noted that participation in dry-season farming this year was lower compared to previous years, warning that more farmers may withdraw from farming if the situation is not addressed.

While commending the Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for his support to the association in the previous year, Kumba called on the governor to assist farmers at the right time to reduce production costs and ensure food commodities remain available at stable prices.

He also appealed to governments at all levels and well-meaning individuals in society to support farmers directly, rather than channeling assistance through intermediaries that often fail to reach farmers in the field.