Police Debunk Viral Report of Wife Cutting Off Husband's Manhood In Taraba

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Taraba State Police Command has debunked a viral report alleging that a 24-year-old woman, Maimuna, cut off her husband's manhood leading to his death in Gashaka Local Government Area.

The Command said verification by the Divisional Police Officer, Serti Division, did not establish the incident.

In a press release issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, the Command said the DPO went after hearing viral reports conducted an on-the-ground verification and made inquiries within Maigoje Village, Mai Idanu Ward and surrounding communities.

"The verification exercise did not establish the occurrence of the alleged incident, and the communities contacted did not confirm the claims contained in the publication," the statement said.

The Command said it therefore has no confirmed information substantiating the report.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Edwin Ogbeghagha, urged the public and media practitioners to exercise caution and verify sensitive reports before sharing.

The Command also cautioned against fabrication and dissemination of false information, warning that such conduct violates applicable laws and will be handled in accordance with due process.

Taraba: Housewife Allegedly Severs Husband's Manhood, Victim Dies

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

A 24-year-old housewife has allegedly severed her husband's manhood in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State over jealousy.

The victim, 30-year-old Haruna Ishaka, died hours after the attack.

The incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. on Monday during a domestic dispute at the couple's residence.

Sources told our reporter that the deceased was attacked following disagreements over his alleged extramarital affairs with young girls.

It was gathered that his wife, Maimuna, had repeatedly warned him to desist from the act, but he failed to heed her warning.

Haruna reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday and has been buried according to Islamic rites, while his wife fled the village.

Confirming the incident on Friday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, said the Divisional Police Officer was on his way to the scene.

"I am aware of the report. The DPO is heading to the location as we speak," Mshelizah said.

He added that investigation was ongoing and efforts were underway to arrest the fleeing suspect.

ASUU Faults Kefas Aides Over Claim TSU Pays Highest Salaries

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, has debunked claims by appointees of Governor Agbu Kefas that the institution is the highest paying university in Nigeria.

The union described the claim as false, misleading and unsupported by any verifiable record.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chairman of ASUU-TSU, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, said the union took note with grave concern of a podcast circulated on social media by a social media hireling of the government, whose comments exposed his ignorance.

Mbave said the figures from the state government's own fact-finding report and salary structures of other universities contradict the claim.

He said the report titled "Report on the Implementation of Consolidated Academic/Teaching Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Allowance (CONTTA)" covering Gombe State University, Sa'adu Zungur University Bauchi, Yobe State University and Adamawa State University, was presented to the union on September 24, 2026.

"The report established that the institutions covered had fully implemented the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement. It follows that staff of these institutions earn more than their counterparts at Taraba State University," he said.

The union gave comparative figures to puncture the claim, "Graduate Assistant CONUASS 01 at TSU earns N237,331.33 while the same rank at Rivers State University earns N559,577.49.

Professor CONUASS 07 Step 10 at TSU earns N1,002,801.94 while at Rivers State University the same rank earns N3,355,231.10. Professor CONUASS 07 Step 7 at TSU earns N984,806.69 while Graduate Assistant at Delta State University Abraka earns N503,574.00 and Professor CONUASS 07 Step 10 at Delta State University earns N1,667,280.00. Benue State University also pays higher than TSU," he added.

Mbave disclosed that TSU staff sacrificed arrears in the interest of industrial harmony, as the 30% National Minimum Wage and the 25%/35% wage award were never implemented at TSU and no arrears were paid.

He noted that Bauchi State was among the first in the North to implement all the wage adjustments and CATA without constituting committees.

The union urged the public to disregard false claims and demanded full implementation of the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement and payment of outstanding arrears.

TSU-ASUU Shuts Down Varsity indefinitely

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Taraba State University (ASUU-TSU) Chapter on Monday declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite shuts down of the institution's activities.

This according to the union chairman, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, in a statement, explained that the decision follows the continued delay by governor Agbu Kefas to implement the union's demands.

"The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Taraba State University (ASUU-TSU) Chapter, wishes to inform the general public that it has resolved to commence a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action with immediate effect from 12th October, 2026.

The action is based on two key demands:

1. Immediate implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU remuneration agreement at Taraba State University.

2. Immediate payment of all accrued salary arrears from January 2026 to the date and full implementation of the agreed remuneration structure.

"The Union wishes to state that it has demonstrated considerable patience, responsibility and commitment to dialogue throughout this process. Since February 2026, ASUU-TSU has engaged the Taraba State Government on the matter, leading to the constitution of a verification committee to assess the existing salary structure and level of implementation across the North East.

"The verification exercise was concluded with the report presented 24th September, 2026. Following government's appeal and request for additional time from the Office of the Head of Civil Service, the Union suspended its planned industrial action in the interest of industrial harmony.

"However, the continued delay in implementation despite the completion of these processes has compelled the Union to commence this industrial action.

"ASUU-TSU wishes to emphasise that this action is not a rejection of dialogue. The Union remains open to meaningful and constructive engagement with government and relevant stakeholders. Such engagement, however, must be sincere, timely and directed towards achieving a definite resolution.

"We call on the Taraba State Government to respect the processes already concluded and take immediate steps towards implementing the agreed remuneration framework and settling all outstanding arrears.

"We urges the public to understand that this struggle is about ensuring fairness, protecting the dignity of university workers and upholding the sanctity of agreements reached in good faith". The statement declared.

10-Year-Old Abia Rep Emerges First Runner-Up At Little Miss Nigeria 2026

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

Ten-year-old Ambassador Virtuosa Ihechiziterem Ikemezuo-Chintuo, representing Abia State, has emerged first runner-up at the grand finale of the 2026 Little Miss Nigeria Pageant.

Virtuosa finished second behind eventual winner, Aisha Salau Audu, in the keenly contested national finale that paraded talented young contestants from across the federation.

The 10-year-old prodigy also went home with a cash prize of N300,000 and clinched the Little Miss Nigeria Photogenic title for her poise, confidence and stage presence.

The grand finale featured cultural presentations, intellectual tests and creative showcases that celebrated Nigeria's diverse heritage while instilling leadership values in the girl-child.

Statement by the organisers said the Little Miss Nigeria initiative goes beyond conventional pageantry and provides a developmental platform to nurture intellect, build self-confidence, foster national consciousness and instill positive character in young girls.

They commended judges, corporate partners, parents and guardians for supporting the successful execution of the 2026 edition.

Police to deploy more personnel after hoodlums attack female hostel in Taraba

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Taraba State Police Command has promised to deploy more security personnel to student hostels and other vulnerable areas following the attack on the college of nursing sciences' female hostel in the early hours of Saturday.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Didango Shehu gave the assurance while confirming the incident to journalists in Jalingo on Monday.

Didango said the Command has received report of the invasion where suspected hoodlums attacked a female hostel located outside the main campus of the institution and dispossessed students of their belongings.

He said the police is aware that one of the female students was allegedly raped during the attack, adding that investigation has commenced to arrest the perpetrators.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police has directed for immediate deployment of more patrol teams to the affected community and other student-dominated areas to forestall further occurrence.

He assured students and the general public that the police would not relent in its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state.

According to students, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when suspected hoodlums invaded the hostel while students were asleep and attacked occupants.

The attackers were said to have dispossessed several students of their mobile phones, money and other personal belongings, with one female student allegedly raped during the invasion.

The development sparked tension among students, leading to a peaceful protest on Saturday morning, as hundreds of students took to the streets to demand improved security.

The students said the protest was not only about Monday's incident but also about the general insecurity faced by those living outside the institution's premises in private hostels.

They lamented that students who cannot secure accommodation within the school campus are forced to live in isolated areas where they are vulnerable to criminal attacks.

Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Provost of the institution, Mr. Khikando Agyo Yavini, who spoke on behalf of the Provost, Dr. Mrs. Dorcas S. Dugule, said management is collaborating with security agencies to address the situation.

He assured that management is on top of the matter and is working to prevent further occurrence, while appealing to students to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out their investigations.

Taraba Records 133 Confirmed Lassa Fever Cases, 57 Deaths in 2026

 

 

By Thomas Samuel

Taraba State recorded four suspected cases of Lassa fever, one confirmed case and one death during August 2026, according to the state’s Monthly Epidemiological Bulletin.

The August bulletin of the Taraba State Ministry of Health said the death occurred in neighbouring Gombe State, while the latest positive case reported in Taraba was recorded in Karim Lamido Local Government Area in epidemiological week thirty-two.

The report showed that between epidemiological weeks thirty-one and thirty-five, one Local Government Area was affected by Lassa fever, with one suspected case, one confirmed case and one death recorded.

Year-to-date figures for epidemiological weeks one to thirty-five showed that the state had recorded 380 suspected cases, 133 confirmed cases and 57 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 42.8 percent.

The bulletin identified Ardo-Kola, Bali and Jalingo as the three Local Government Areas with the highest number of Lassa fever cases, accounting for 85 percent of the total cases recorded.

It said health authorities had provided free treatment to suspected and confirmed cases at designated treatment centres, while community leaders and residents were mobilised to strengthen disease surveillance and promote early reporting.

The State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Technical Working Group also holds weekly meetings to review reports from the Local Government Areas and plan appropriate responses.

The Ministry said it would sustain risk communication and public awareness on Lassa fever, strengthen surveillance across all sixteen Local Government Areas and intensify case finding in hotspot communities.

Meanwhile, the bulletin recorded no suspected cases of measles or yellow fever during August. It, however, reported one suspected case of diphtheria in Jalingo, with no sample collected due to the unavailability of sample collection materials.

The Ministry listed inadequate active case searches in affected communities, shortages of sample collection kits, inadequate logistics for transporting samples, poor health-seeking behaviour and limited data support for timely disease reporting among the challenges facing epidemic response in the state.

It recommended increased support for disease surveillance, sample collection and transportation, the provision of diphtheria sample collection materials and treatment commodities, refresher training for clinicians, improved reporting and intensified community health education.