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Tag: Taraba

  • Taraba Tiv president: We’ve lost 32 persons to herdsmen

    Taraba Tiv president: We’ve lost 32 persons to herdsmen

    Taraba State Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA) today said, only from January, it has lost no fewer than 32 persons in separate attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    Taraba buried 55 in a mass burial, after which 28 were killed in separate attacks in different settlements.

    A couple and two others were killed at the weekend, 10hours after Governor Darius Ishaku gave the alarm that the state was on notice to be attacked in 10days.
    Sources said the attack at the weekend in Ngutswen, a Tiv village in Gassol, may be a prelude to the impending attack.

    The Tiv Cultural President, Chief Goodman Dahida, in a statement said, out of the over one hundred Taraba residents killed by Fulani herdsmen, 32 are Tiv people.
    “Five (Tiv) people were killed in Ijandekyula and two in Gidin Doruwa in Wukari.

    “In Ibi, eight people were killed in Gishiri and Dooshima. A village head and another person were hacked down in Kaamen and Ibua villages.
    “On February 1, and 2, five 5 people were slaughtered in Amande Jembe in Wukari. Six were murdered in Dan-Anacha and four killed in Ngutswen village, Wurojam in Gassol local government council at the weekend, bringing the total to 32 -from January to date,” Dahida said.

    He added that many are injured and many more displaced and their homes and crop farms destroyed.

    The Tiv cultural president described as genocide, the killing of the 32 Tiv persons in Taraba, the massacre of 68 in Lau, 28 in other Taraba villages as well as the 73

    Tiv farmers killed in Benue and another seven in Nasarawa state by Fulani killer-herdsmen.

    He urged the federal government to act fast and restore law and order in the country.

    Dahida noted that the Tiv cultural association was saddened and angry in the fact that despite Governor Ishaku’s efforts to promote peaceful coexistence, unprovoked attacks and killings were going on in Taraba.

    He noted that the Tiv ethnic group was not at war with any Fulani community.
    “We are not at war with the Fulani and we are not contemplating war with any group. We are a peace loving people who are predominantly farmers and our determination for peaceful coexistence is unwavering.

    “In the pursuant of peace, we have directed our traditional rulers to help in fishing out criminals among our people and we appeal to the leadership of Miyetti Allah to equally do same to help stop unprovoked attacks and killings for peace to reign,” he said.

    Dahida also dismissed comments that the open grazing prohibition law enforced in Benue and Taraba provoked the killings.

    “It was because of the bloody clashes between herders and farmers that the anti-grazing law was enacted.

    “The inability of the federal government to deal decisively with the situation as in the case of Boko Haram, Cattle Rustling in Zamfara and the threat by Niger Delta

    Avengers, has called the integrity and sincerity of the Buhari led administration to question.

    “The president must treat the killings by Fulani herdsmen as a national emergency,” he said.

  • IGP blames Benue, Taraba anti-open grazing law for crisis

    IGP blames Benue, Taraba anti-open grazing law for crisis

    Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, yesterday identified the controversial anti-open grazing laws in Benue and Taraba states as the source of the unending crisis in the two middle belt states.

    The police boss told the Senate joint Committee on Police Affairs and National Intelligence that the enactment of the laws against the opposition of herdsmen was responsible for the problem in the states.

    Idris appeared before the joint committee in camera following the directive of the Senate in plenary that he should be summoned to explain why he failed to comply with the mandate of the upper chamber to apprehend perpetrators of the January 1st mayhem in Benue state.

    Herdsmen suspected to be Fulani swooped on two Benue communities on New Year Day and killed not less than 73 persons.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, refused to brief reporters after the closed door interface with the IGP.

    Ibrahim insisted that he would only report back to the Senate as directed.

    A source close to the committee, however, said that Idris was categorical that the anti-open grazing laws in Benue and Taraba should be blamed for the continuing killings in the states.

    The source also said that the IGP told the committee that a number of arrests have been made.

    The police boss was said to have told the committee that over 120 people have bee arrested as those behind the crisis in the states.

    Asked whether the IGP wanted the laws scrapped, the source noted that Idris was not categorical on the issue of scrapping the laws in the two states.

  • WHO confirms three deaths in Taraba

    WHO confirms three deaths in Taraba

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday confirmed that three persons died of Lassa fever in Taraba State.

    A WHO Surveillance Officer, Dr. Bello Ahmed, disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop on Lassa fever in Jalingo, the state capital. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Health.

    Represented by Dr. Zeto Philip, the officer said 12 cases had been reported, three confirmed dead and three positive cases placed under close monitoring.

    Bello, who said six local governments –Bali, Ibi, Gassol, Gashaka, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola – had been placed under red alert, explained that two deaths were recorded in Jalingo and one in Ardo-Kola, putting the state at 25 per cent infection rate.

    The WHO representative explained that the survey was conducted between January 1 and January 28, with 367 contacts identified across the country.

    He urged the public to be mindful of their personal hygiene and safety to mitigate the spread of the disease.

    He said: “We are planning a collaboration with the federal government to develop a test kit for rapid diagnosis to complement the diagnosis centre at Irrua specialist hospital.

    “We want to call on the federal government to consider the establishment of at least one diagnostic and treatment center in each of the zones across the country to effectively tackle the spread of the disease.”

    Commissioner for Health Innocent Vakkai said the workshop was part of the state government’s efforts aimed at creating awareness to mitigate the spread of the disease.

    Vakkai said early detection and treatment were key in preventing the spread of the disease. He called on the people to always report cases of fever timely to medical personnel, even as he advised doctors handling victims to always protect themselves from contracting the disease.

    State Epidemiologist Dr. Udi Aketemo cautioned against eating of rats and advocated good hygiene practices.

  • Herdsmen/farmers conflict inimical to agricultural policy – Commissioner

    Herdsmen/farmers conflict inimical to agricultural policy – Commissioner

    The Taraba Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr David Kassa says the lingering clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country is derailing the Federal Government’s agriculture programmes.

    Kassa said this at an interactive session with newsmen in Jalingo on Tuesday. According to him, the conflict if not checked can plunge the country into a food crisis.

    The commissioner noted that the Federal Government’s appeal for people to go back to the farms in order to divert attention from oil had become counterproductive because of the lingering herdsmen/farmers crisis.

    “The Federal Government should treat this issue as a national emergency.

    Read also: I won’t stop talking on herdsmen killings – Ortom

    “People have to go to the bushes to practice agriculture, but now, millions of farmers can’t go to farm because of herdsmen attacks, and food crisis is eminent in this country.

    “Taraba and Benue are known for food production, but today millions of farmers in these states and beyond can’t go to their farms.

    “It’s a thing of concern and the Federal Government must act fast to avert food crisis in the coming year,” he said.

    Kassa appealed to the Federal Government to consider putting a legislation that would encourage establishment of ranches as permanent solution to the killings.

    According to him, the open grazing prohibition law enacted by the Taraba government is part of deliberate efforts to end the incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

    “The Federal Government, the UN and other agencies can come in and provide incentives for people to go into ranching, which is the best practice of cattle rearing all over the world today.

    “Government can do that by encouraging herders to form cooperative societies as its being done in other crop practice to make it easy for government and the international organisations to easily identify them for intervention,” he said.

    NAN

  • Benue, Taraba killings: FG opts for military action to flush out killers

    Benue, Taraba killings: FG opts for military action to flush out killers

    The Federal Government at the weekend opted to take decisive military force to deal with the bandits believed to be behind the killings in parts of the country especially regarding the crisis associated with herdsmen.

    The was disclosed on Sunday by a reliable Presidency source.

    The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said “The role of bandits and suspected mercenaries in what has become known as herdsmen/ farmer clashes and violence may have provoked the need for a fresh approach to dealing with the crisis, informed sources close to the Working Group formed recently by the National Economic Council have hinted.”

    “The settled view in official circles is that the reported killings and violence recorded are the work of bandits and mercenaries since in many cases the herdsmen are often well-known in the communities where their cattle normally graze.”

    According to him, the new position is one of the outcomes of the Working Group formed less than two weeks ago by the National Economic Council with 9 Governors, and chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

     The group was set up in a bid to end the impunity that has marked the activities of the bandits resulting in several deaths and maiming especially in Benue State.

    According to the Kano State Governor Dr. Ganguje who read out highlights and decisions of the NEC to reporters (alongside his Ebonyi counterpart ) after the Council meeting that Thursday the Working Group “will work in accordance with the President’s commitment to ensuring that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book.”

    The highlights also noted that the Working Group which consists of Governors from Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi & Oyo States actually commenced its work with a meeting presided over by the VP right immediately after NEC at the Presidential Villa.

    The source disclosed that at the end of the Working Group meeting last week, it was clear a major turning point had been reached in the management of the crisis and sufficient consensus recorded on the need to stop the impunity by engaging the military in a more decisive manner.

    Some political analyst had  indicated that the crisis also required a political solution considering the religious and ethnic tones that could easily become further exacerbated and possibly worsen the situation if proper and timely care is not taken.

    “This is the reason analysts argue, even with some critical opinions on the composition of the Working Group, that the idea of gathering together governors across the country including the states where the crisis have been intense to collaborate actively among themselves and with the FG to address the situation is useful.

    “Indeed one of the firm outcomes of the Working Group’s meeting was the expressed readiness of the FG to locate and identify the bandits who perpetrate the killings and the violence, and using all necessary means including military involvement to flush them out of their hideouts in forests across the country as a definite move to secure the life and property of Nigerian citizens.

    “The Working Group has also resolved to work with the FG to strengthen law enforcement and all security & intelligence agencies in the country so they can coordinate better in dealing with, checkmating, and preventing the crisis from further escalation.”

    On how to permanently address the basis of the herdsmen and farmer clashes, the Working Group sources said that they have taken the view that every State should by a rigorous consultative process with all stakeholders design its own solutions.

    “The Federal government will not impose any solution on any State. The Vice President assured all that the Federal government would certainly not imposed its ideas n the States and noted that fears being expressed on cattle colonies are misplaced” he said

    He also confirmed that the military are already engaged and would soon begin to implement decisive military steps to tackle the situation.

    “Also the Nigerian Police and other security & military agencies have been asked to recruit more rank and file to tighten security in the troubled spots and in the country generally.” he said

  • Protest won’t stop Osinbajo panel on herdsmen/farmers clashes

    Protest won’t stop Osinbajo panel on herdsmen/farmers clashes

    The Yemi Osinbajo Committee on herdsmen / farmers clashes is pressing ahead with its assignment regardless of the recent objection of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to the membership of Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) of the panel.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s rejection of  Ortom and Ishaku stemmed from their introduction of the anti-open grazing laws in their states.

    However, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande, said that the job of the committee was in  the interest of all Nigerians, especially all the communities and parties  affected by  the crises. 

    He said panel would ,therefore,leave no stone unturned to ensure peace and security of life and property in the affected communities.

    “Our job is to all Nigerians and in this case all affected parties and communities. The interest of the administration is peace and the first duty of government is to provide peace and security of life and property,”Akande said.

    “We note the views of all and welcome their right to their own positions. Government would also do its job to secure the wellbeing of all Nigerians including those who have expressed their opinions.

    “The Working Group has met once already and would continue to meet to ensure that all Nigerians live in peace and security.

    “The Group is made up of elected governors including those whose communities are affected. And we should not forget that all those serving in States as Governors and FG have sworn to protect the constitution. That is the guarantee by law that their actions would be fair and without fear or favour.

    “This crisis and the misunderstanding that attends it would be over under the Buhari administration by the special Grace of God.”

    The Osinbajo committee was set up by the last meeting of the National Economic Council towards finding solution to the killings in the affected communities.

  • Unease as Taraba enforces Anti-open Grazing Law

    Unease as Taraba enforces Anti-open Grazing Law

    There is unease in Taraba State as the government enforces its Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law today.

    But Deputy Governor Haruna Manu has said the law would be implemented “gradually and in phases”.

    Manu, who addressed reporters after a meeting with traditional rulers and security chiefs, said the process would start with a workshop in Jalingo today, and other local government areas.

    He said the training of marshalls and provision of infrastructure, as provided by the law, would follow while the government would establish pilot ranches.

    The Anti-open Grazing Law, the deputy governor noted, will turn the state’s economic fortunes around by ending perennial clashes between herders and farmers.

    Manu, a Fulani, added that Fulani pastoralists have shown interest to key into the law, with the necessary infrastructure.

    But Chairman of Dandalin Makiyaya Cattle Breeders of Nigeria (DMCBN), Umar Bello, warned that full implementation of the law will cause chaos.

    He said his members would resist arrest, even when they openly graze their animals.

    According to him, the tendency for his members to resist arrest is high, and the leadership can’t force them to comply with the law.

    His words: “The leadership of the association is worried that if the law is implemented under the present circumstances, more than 70 per cent of the cattle in Taraba State would be prone to arrest, because members have not been able to ranch their cattle due to lack of infrastructure.”

    Bello urged the government to provide pilot ranches and infrastructure where they will keep their cattle pending when they get their ranches.

    State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Sahabi Tukur, asked for more time.

    Tukur urged Governor Darius Ishaku to extend the “period of transition” to give room for more consultation, while the government puts required infrastructure in place.

    The association is challenging the law in court.

  • Benue, Taraba to partner on security

    Benue, Taraba to partner on security

    BENUE and Taraba States have agreed to resist reported plots by Fulani pastoralists to takeover people’s lands.

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Darius Ishaku spoke yesterday in Takum, at the burial of a member of Taraba House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, who was killed by kidnappers.

    According to Ortom, the land which the herdsmen are claiming was passed to the Benue people by their forefathers.

    He maintained that God brought him and Ishaku to strengthen the bond between their states, promising that they will fight and defeat crime.

    Ortom hailed the people and government of Taraba for standing firm in the implementation of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, which he said could end farmers/herdsmen crises.

    Ishaku said the law was enacted to ensure peaceful co-existence in the state.

    He lamented the level of insecurity, and called on security agencies to reverse the trend.

    The governors reaffirmed their rejection of the proposed cattle colony, urging other states to embrace ranching as the global best practice for animal husbandry.

  • Update: Police investigate report of aircraft loaded with firearms in Taraba

    Update: Police investigate report of aircraft loaded with firearms in Taraba

     
    The Taraba State Police Command on Sunday said it was gathering intelligence on reports that a helicopter suspected to be loaded with firearms and ammunition landed in Jubu village, Wukari local government area of the State on Saturday night.
              
    Jibu is located along River Benue, near Ibi.
              
    News of the aircraft carrying fire arms and landing in Jubu village  was widely circulated on social media onSaturday.
              
    The report, yet to be verified, scared residents in the State.
              
    Governor Darius Ishaku’s media and publicity aide, Bala Dan Abu, alleged that the arms and ammunition might be meant for a militia group that may be planning to carry out attacks on Taraba villages.
              
    “This system of arms delivery was said to have happened prior to the tragic attacks in Agatu in Benue State last year, which led to many killings.
              
    “Nothing was done to trace and arrest the owners of the helicopter.
    This may be another planned militia attacks in the offing,” Abu said.
             
     A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly representing Wukari II Constituency, Josiah Aji, told newsmen he was alerted of the development.
              
    Aji said he had also alerted security agencies and the chairman of Wukari local government council, Daniel Adi, to investigate the allegation.
              
    Police spokesman, David Misal, said a surveillance team was directed to the area to get to the roots of the matter, to verify whether is true or false alarm.
              
    Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who spoke to our correspondent, said: “That issue remains a rumour for now; we are yet to confirm it. We cannot dismiss it too. We are gathering intelligence on it.
              
    “We shall make our findings known to the public at the appropriate time,” he said.  
              
    A resident of Jibu, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on telephone, that even late last year, a helicopter landed in the same village in the night, but the mission of the helicopter was not established.
    “But now I am in Wukari town so I don’t whether an aircraft has landed there again.”
             
     The source said he was informed that fire arms were being ferried across River Benue in Jubu to Banteje, a town along Wukari-Jalingo Road.
             
     Another resident of Jibu said he was not aware of any helicopter landing in Jubu village.
  • Aircraft loaded with arms lands in Taraba village

    Aircraft loaded with arms lands in Taraba village

    A helicopter suspected to be loaded with arms and ammunition was Saturday night reported to have landed in a village called Jibu, in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.
    Governor Darius Ishaku’s media aide, Bala Dan Abu has told newsmen that the arms and ammunition are allegedly meant for a militia group that may be planning attacks on Taraba villages.
    Police spokesman, David Misal, said a surveillance team has been directed to the area to get to the roots of the matter.