The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taraba

  • 18 farmers hacked to death in Taraba

    At least 18 farmers are believed to have been hacked to death by unknown assailants at Dan-anacha in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba in the early hours of Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the killings are one of the series of bloody attacks in the state.

    NAN reports that most of the farmers were killed on their farms.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr David Misal, who confirmed the incident, said that the police would soon release the casualty figure.

    “Actually, I cannot lie to you there are casualties, but we will release the figures later after we might have finish combing the area.

    “It was an undercover attack by some unidentified people in the area,” Misal said.

    He said the police would soon conduct a thorough search for the perpetrators of the wicked act through intelligence gathering.

    The acting Chairman of Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier, Mr Dooior Torkula, said a total of 18 persons were killed in separate attacks.

    Torkula said the frontier recovered 12 corpses in Dan-Anacha shortly after the attacks.

    According to him, four bodies were recovered from the Borno- Kruku road on the outskirts of Dan-Anacha, while two other corpses were recovered in their farms.

    He alleged that the attackers broke into most of the victims’ houses while they slept and murdered them.

    He further said that 18 other persons were left badly injured.

    The acting chairman said the bodies were recovered at about 3am on Sunday.

    Torkula said calm had returned to the area following the arrival of armed mobile policemen.

    The policemen are currently patrolling the area to ensure law and order. (NAN)

  • Betty Esse crowned Miss Goodwill Ambassador Nigeria

    Betty Esse crowned Miss Goodwill Ambassador Nigeria

    Aigbirior Betty Esse was crowned a Queen in the contest Miss Goodwill Ambassador Nigeria (MGAN ) held at Sheraton Hotel Abuja, Nigeria.

    The 26-year-old was among 36 other contestants who represented various states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the humanitarian pageant where 10 crowns were handed out to deserving winners’.

    Surprisingly, the beautiful ebony skinned graduate of University of Ibadan (DLC) with a gorgeous smile was contesting for her first major pageant and represented Taraba without any hopes of winning.

    But like a beautiful flute in the ears of a music loving King, her name filtered out of the MC’s microphone and filled the room like snow taking over the rain from winter. Her smile glowed as she walked onto the podium to receive her crown.

    Speaking with the Nation Entertainment after receiving her crown, she said: “I wanted to quit at the inceptions because pageantry as said by some friends is not always free and fair.

    “As a first timer in a contest those words wanted to discourage me but I summoned courage to give it a shot as life itself is sometimes a win or lose affair. But the Almighty God took the wheels and I emerged a winner amidst other Queens.

    “I’m super proud that am now referred to as Queen Aigbirior Betty Esse, MGAN Peace Advocacy Ambassador and I give all glory to God.”

    Her pet project is campaign for peace, shunning violence at all levels. She is expected to will work both locally and internationally on peace advocacy campaigns.

     

  • Lack of cash threatens Taraba’s fortune

    Lack of cash threatens Taraba’s fortune

    Well, the potentials are there but without money, what can I do with our tourism potentials?

    That may well have captured how Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku felt when the reporter caught up with him.

    He told The Nation, “I see the potentials, I know what to do, but I don’t have the resources to do it. If I have money, what I’d do in my state within the next four years would be unimaginable. I can tell you that if that is done, you won’t meet me here for an interview.

    “You will meet me either in Gembu or Mambilla. That is where the Presidential resort should be, that is where the Camp David of the President should be because if he takes people there, he does not need any air conditioning even when there is no light. These are the potentials we have in this country but are not exploited. There are some Germans that come to the Gamshaka Gumti Park every year for studies with their students for the last ten years. We have a lot of things there. But what we lack is the resources to do the right thing. I wish the money they use to get is coming now.”

    The governor said the state could  explore other natural resources available in the state.

    He said, “We have the rarest minerals in Taraba State. We have bauxite which is aluminum used for making airplane and one mineral sourced for all over the world. Saphire is being mined there illegally and it is next to diamond. Gold is available in the state. Without barrette, you can’t drill oil and it is available in the state.

    “During Abacha, the importation was banned and people where rushing to Taraba to mine it and take to Port Harcourt to drill oil. After Abacha, the ban was lifted and people went back to importation because by doing that, they are able to take our foreign exchange. We have over 50 mineral deposits in Taraba State. There is coal there which can be turned to power. There are many rivers which can be turned to hydro which can be turned to power. I have wind potential which can also be turned to power. There are so many natural resources in the state.”

    The state, he said, is blessed in all areas and the government is taking advantage of this to develop its tea and coffee potentials. At the moment, the Highland tea which has been moribund has started production, while the sugar potentials are being explored.

    He said, “One of the areas where we have made some level of impact is revitalisation of the tea and the tea factory is running 24 hours right now because we had a small mini dam which was constructed with the help of the United Nations in collaboration with the state government. That dam is working, providing 24 hours services. We refurbished the old tea factory, removed the obsolete machines and replaced them with brand new ones and right now, it is working very well.

    “That has made the people in Kakara village and the surrounding villages busy, proving the tea which hitherto was not in use before now, sell it to the factory and go there every week to collect. In October, I was in India and went to virtually all the tea farms in India to see what they are doing correctly that we are not doing. Right now, four of our boys are in India, being trained . We want to pursue aggressive nursery for the tea. For coffee, we want to learn the model and from what I have read and heard, the Kenyan and Ethiopian models seem to be best suitable for our climate.”

  • Relief for Taraba’s warring communities

    Relief for Taraba’s warring communities

    Senator Emmanuel Bwa-cha’s help for the warring communities in Donga Local Government Area in southern Taraba came just when it was most needed. Apart from the recession that is biting hard and crumbling the economy of the council, a wave of ethnic crisis has hit the once peaceful area, throwing it into turmoil. A man was feared killed, after at least 25 persons were injured and properties estimated in millions of naira destroyed.

    The skirmishes involved the people of Gankwe and Gidan Adamu. Sources told The Nation that a little argument at a wedding party had brought the two neighbouring communities to blows.

    Senator Bwacha visited the battlefields soon after the rage, bringing relief inform of cash for the affected homes. He also gave them hope that their living condition shall be better someday. But most importantly, Bwacha’s visit brought peace to the fold which ended their division. The senator preached the message of God, repentance and reconciliation.

    The two communities, having found love again, have begun to address their common challenge. As local farmers, their challenge is their inability to invest in modern techniques of farming in the midst of lush vegetation, fertile undulating land and beautiful inselbergs. Due to unemployment and pervasive poverty, very little or nothing is sold to raise money for investment in modern agriculture.  Bwacha, a different breed of politician, is a core grassroots man and one of the truest leaders in Taraba state. A lawyer and deputy minority leader in the senate representing southern Taraba, he was in his constituency to see his people and find out how they were faring in this period of economic recession. It was during the constituency visit that he stumbled on the crisis involving Gankwe and Gidam Adamu.

    Southern Taraba geopolitical district comprises of Wukari, Ibi, Donga, Takum, Ussa and Yangtu Special Development Area. Bwacha hails from Donga. While in Donga during the constituency outreach, he first visited his king -the Gara Donga HRH Danjuma Stephen Bayonga in his palace. He briefed the monarch on his constituency outreach. He said his constituency visit was to bridge the communication gap that could lead to trade of blames. He spoke about his two bills which he has sponsored in the interest of the state and his plans to cater for crisis displaced persons who he said were squatting while voting for him in last year’s polls. Gara told Bwacha to open the Donga-Mararraba Road which has been the albatross to sustaining the relative peace in Donga (armed robbers take advantage of the bad spots).

    It was on this bad road that The Nation accompanied the senator on a visit to the warring area. Several homes were torched while bags of groundnuts and other farm produce were razed down.  The affected people were seen lamenting the incident.

    After brokering truce between the two settlements, Senator Bwacha spoke to Northern Report: “These brothers were at each other’s neck. But God spoke to them to have understanding before I came. This has given a lee way for them to avoid future occurrence.

    “I donated a little to ameliorate their suffering. One person from Gankwe was killed in the crisis, so, I commiserated and prayed with them for God to remove from them the religion of politics. As true Christians, let them become their brothers’ keepers to fight no more.”

     

  • 100 youths trained in Taraba 

    100 youths trained in Taraba 

    The Bank of Industry (BOI) has ended its five-day job creation training exercise for Northeast youths in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

    The programme tagged Youth Entrepreneurship Skills (YES) is a job creation and youth empowerment plan run nationwide by the federal government through the Bank of Industry. In Jalingo, the closing event was organised by the African Community Bridge Foundation, a consultancy firm, on behalf of the Bank of Industry.

    The programme is aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment and poverty in the country, particularly among the youth.

    The participants, about 100, were drawn from Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States, after they were earlier intensively trained online for twelve weeks. 10 facilitators at the training came from the Lagos Business School, adjudged to have huge experiences in their chosen topics.

    The participants were all issued Certificates of Participation to obtain loans from the Bank of Industry to begin their business empires.

    The Bank of Industry Manager for the zone, Bala Dahiru, congratulated the participants. He said the training was meant to equip the youth with the basic knowledge on how to run successful and profitable businesses cum become employers of labour.

    Dahiru urged the trained youths to justify the “high level skills” impacted onto them and as well transfer the knowledge to other youths in their various communities.

    He warned them not to consider the loans given them as free gifts but ensure they pay off the loans on time to be able to access more BOI facilities.

    “This training is designed by the federal government to give the participating youths skills in finance, marketing, sells and business laws among other fields, to enable them create jobs with small businesses.

    “The training is a federal government’s deliberate policy to create jobs through entrepreneurship skills for the teeming unemployed graduates in Nigeria.

    “And we are training you not just to be self employed but to also be employers of labour as you assess the loan and begin your businesses.

    “The loans will be refunded in three years when it is expected that your businesses must have gained grounds and become sustainable,” Dahiru said.

  • NDE trains 120 in Taraba

    NDE trains 120 in Taraba

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Taraba State is training 120 youths in skill acquisition. The participants are being trained in such vocational skills as computer/ICT, barbing, cloth making, hair weaving cum dressing, tailoring and GSM repairs, among others.

    The trainees would be paid N10,000 allowance each at the end of the five-month course called Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS). It began at the weekend.

    Senior Special Adviser on Youth and Sport Development Solomon Elisha declared the training opened at New System Cuisine. He said the state government will build skill acquisition centres for NDE programmes.

    “One of the rescue missions of the Darius Ishaku administration is youth development. But while we do our best to develop you (unemployed youths), you on the other hand must do your best to develop yourself. To be self-reliant, you must be an entrepreneur, and the NDE has given you the opportunity to be trained, empowered and be self-reliant,” he said.

    In attendance at the opening ceremony were two supervisors from the headquarters Abuja: Christopher Bamsida of the Vocational Skill Development (VSD) department and Aminu Mohammed of the Small Scale Enterprise (SSE).

    In the state, the VSD Head of Department (HOD) was represented by Mrs Helen Ngozi Eze, a Job Centre Officer who cautioned the participants against drug abuse.

    Taraba State Coordinator Adirimi Adibisi said the participants would be monitored as the training goes on.

    “Millions of youths are roaming the streets but these ones are here to be trained to be self-reliant with their families. I congratulate them.

    “The federal government agenda is to create jobs for unskilled and unemployed youths through the NDE. We want to train you to do whatever you can do with your hands, for you to become meaningful Nigerians.”

    Mr. Christopher Bamsida of VSE Abuja said the NDE is training only 120 youths in Taraba because the state has no skills acquisition centre.

    He added that the NDE will train 9,360 youths nationwide this year because of budgetary constraint.

    “We are training 360 youths each in Gombe and Adamawa states because these states have three skill centres each. In Taraba, we can’t take more than 120, because there is no skills acquisition centre,” he said.

    There are 74 skills acquisition centres in the country, out of which only 64 are functional.

  • Taraba gov lifts suspension of four monarchs

    Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, has lifted the suspension of three District Heads and a Ward Head.

    The pardoned monarchs, whose names were given by the Deputy Governor Haruna Manu, are: District Head of Taka in Mutum-Biyu Chiefdom of Gassol LGA, HRH Ali Adamu; District Head of Tella in Gassol Chiefdom of Gassol LGA, HRH Bello Chiroma: District Head of Sendirde in Gassol Chiefdom of Gassol LGA, HRH Ali Umaru Tafida, and the Ward Head of Sabon Dale in Bakundi Chiefdom of Bali LGA, HRH Tanko Isiaku.

    The four monarchs were suspended along with other five traditional rulers on February 22, following a security report that indicted them of allegedly “aiding and harbouring criminals in their domains.”

    They were also accused of “illegally selling plots of land in their domains” which belong to the internally displaced persons IDPs, which government said posed a “serious threat to peace and security in those areas.”

    Deputy Governor Haruna Manu said they have been recalled to their offices because “they were remorseful during the period of their suspension.”

    They are to be issued “letters of reinstatement and warning” by the Permanent Secretary of Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Bello Yero.

    It was however, gathered that the suspension on the other five rulers is extended “until further checks and clarifications by the Taraba State Government.”

  • NCPC launches Win-a-Trip to Israel in Taraba

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has launched the “Win a Trip to Israel” promo in Taraba State.

    Governor Ishaku Dairus, who launched the raffle draw, commended the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, John Kennedy Opara, for his visionary leadership style and the innovations he has brought to bear on the commission.

    The governor further said the “Win a Trip to Israel” was a laudable programme as it would help government to withdraw from sponsorship of intending pilgrims.

    Governor Dairus affirmed that he would try as much as possible to encourage Christians to go on pilgrimage, adding that the benefits of pilgrimage are enormous.

    In his words: “I was really blessed during the 2015 A Day with Jesus in Israel”.

    He paid for 16,000 tickets for the 16 local government areas of the state. According to him, “each local government would share 1,000 tickets to enable those who cannot afford the cost of pilgrimage to Israel to benefit from the draw”.

    The governor promised to sponsor 100 youths to participate in the commission’s youth pilgrimage to enable the youths in Taraba State benefit from the Skill Acquisition Programme.

    According to him, “I know the youths will learn skills that will make them independent”.

    Opara, in his remark, stressed that the idea of the “Win a Trip to Israel” was born out of the need to afford many Christians the opportunity to embark on the pilgrimage to Israel in view of the economic situation of the country at no cost to the state or federal government.

    The two lucky winners that emerged in the “Win a Trip to Israel” raffle draw were Miss Sapdira Bem and Mr. Woburi Ezekiel.

    The promo in Taraba State was powered by  Fortune Game Nigeria Limited, the NCPC,  National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

  • Taraba school marks 100 years’ anniversary today

    Taraba school marks 100 years’ anniversary today

    Katsina-Ala Old Boys Association (KAOBA) holds its 10th National Convention to celebrate 100years of Government College Katsina-Ala (GCK) today. Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO, a member of the 1994 set, writes that the convention seeks to, among other things, revive the famous school following its debilitation due to neglect by the government. 

    THE memories are sweet and everlasting. Picturing back to when one got admitted into Government College Katsina-Ala (GCK); attending  classes for five or six years;  life in the dormitory; participating in games and sports;  relationship with teachers.These can never be deleted from one’s heart for ever.

    Many are dead, but for those who are still living, schooling in GCK ranks as one of life’s biggest experiences, the type you would not find even in the university.

    Perhaps, the relationship between juniors and seniors in GCK is the most memorable, a sort of unforgettable sweet-bitter story. In the junior classes you were caned, sent on errands, asked to cut grass or  sweep part of the school compound as punishment  by a senior student. When you were in the final year, it was your time to ‘revenge’ what was done to you. And it has been so for over 100years now. How time flies!

    This reporter was in GCK from 1989 to 1994. When he met the present Principal Stephen Gber  in the school last Monday for an interview, he discovered he was talking to another old student belonging to the 1972-1975.

    Gber, the 46th principal, is a member of  the planning committee for the centenary celebration. Interestingly, the principal was sitting next to his senior, Denen Akaa ( 1969-1973 set). Akaa who retired as Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in August 2013  returned to GCK as Principal between March 19, 1986 and May 20, 1987. Besides Akaa was Haruna Usman who was a student of Akaa. The three men recalled the “good old days.”

    “GCK used to be  famous for  cleanliness/sanitation and punctuality,” Akaa said. Akaa was as good at academics as he was at tennis. Gber and Usman’s interest lay  in football.

    The monuments and structures that made the school look beautiful in those days are now in a state of decay. Its academic standard which had been its strength is now diminished.

    The principal blamed government for the situation and said  KAOBA must now do something to arrest the situation and restore the past glory.

    “I met a population of less than 100 students. Parents were disappointed in the school because of the dilapidated structures and other policies of government,” he said.

    “Now we have about 225 students because I am eradicating the culture I met on ground since I took over as principal on October 10, 2014. There are 44 government teaching staff, four non-teaching staff and eight PTA staff.”

    The principal however, noted that the laboratories, particularly that of Physics, remain the best in the country.Such is  the high quality of the  equipment and apparatuses.

    National President of KAOBA, Haroun Adamu, (KAOBA 1964),said  all is set for the national convention holding at the school’s auditorium today, to mark the centenary of the  college. Scores of old boys stormed  Katsina-Ala yesterday for a gala.

    Spokesman for the association, Iyoo Rov-Ikpah, said that former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, also a  KAOBA member  will chair the convention. Danjuma was the national president of the association in 1990.

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom is chief host, while Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura and the Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong are Guests of Honour. Education Minister Adamu Adamu is also to grace the occasion.

    The Emir of Lafia, Nasarawa State, HRH Isa Mustapha Agwai will be the Royal Father of the event. Agwai of the 1957 set was a year ahead of Danjuma.

    At the convention, the ‘old boys’ will ratify the KAOBA Constitution, after electing new members of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    They will also  take a decision on the  planned launch of a  N500 million appeal fund  to aimed at the “preservation, protection and development” of the school.

    The school has been renovated and given a face lift ahead of  today’s event.

    The planning sub-committee on venue, protocol, security and entertainment, headed by Emmanuel Atini said the town is already agog.

    GCK was founded as Benue School in 1915 by Rev. GP Bargery and originally cited at Wannune. It moved to Katsina-Ala in 1923 and was renamed  Middle School Katsina-Ala.

    It transformed into Benue Provisional Secondary School in 1952, Government Secondary School in 1960 and Government College Katsina-Ala in 1981.

    Over the years, GCK has produced army generals, emirs, admirals, police commissioners, professors, doctors, lawyers, engineers,  journalists, governors and other prominent personalities.

    GCK is a leading light  in the north , providing a learning environment that has been both inspiring and nurturing, and creating opportunities for its products to excel wherever they go from there. It is the third oldest public school in the north and thirteenth in the country.

    It provides instructions  in the  Arts and Social Sciences, Science and Technical education.

    There are five hostels: Sloan, East, Philips, Byewi and Tor-Tiv house. The first three were named after the school’s colonial administrators before Nigeria’s amalgamation. Adi Byewi was one of the greatest old boys and pioneering principals from 1943-1946 and 1948-1949. He returned again in 1952 and bowed out in 1953. Tor-Tiv House was created to immortalise two old boys who became Tor-Tiv -the first-class chief and paramount ruler of Benue State, Gondo Aluor (Tor-Tiv II) and Akperan Orshi (Tor-Tiv III).

    Other famous KAOBAs expected at the 10th national convention include: Abu Shuluwa (1962-65), Joseph Kasar (set 1963-67), former ALGON Chairman of Benue State Augustine Avaan and Martins Aondona Ujoh who is the present the Caretaker Chairman of Katsina-Ala and member of the planning committee.

  • Ishaku suspends state varsity workers

    Ishaku suspends state varsity workers

    Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku has ordered the authority of University of Jalingo to suspend all staff the state employed between May 29, 2015 to date.

     

    This was contained in a letter with a reference number MOE/S/34/169  signed by the state Commissioner for Education who was represented by Bala Fwadu.

     

    The letter which was addressed on Monday to the registrar, Taraba State University, stated that the directive was with immediate effect.

     

    Part of the content of the letter read thus, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku, has directed that all employment of staff in the University from 29th May, 2015 to date have been suspended.’’