Governor Darius Ishaku to Partner with National Biotechnology Development Center

Taraba State Government has commenced a working partnership with the National Biotechnology Development Agency.

 As a teaser, the State Governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has mandated the Bioresources Development Center Jalingo to train One hundred indigenes of the State in various skills within the center.

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku made the commitment yesterday when he visited the Bioresources development center to familiarize himself with services being offered by the Agency and to seek ways that the state can benefit maximally from such services.

The Governor who was impressed with activities of the center promised to provide the Agency with a transformer to help them in carrying out their activities stressing that electricity is very important in any research based center.

He also made a promise to construct a culvert to link the Agency with the major road and equally assured them that his administration will construct six classrooms for the center when the economy of the state improves, saying that, the Bioresources development center is very critical and it will assist him in his rescue mission in the state.

Governor Darius Ishaku maintained that his Rescue Mission is geared towards making people of the state self sufficient and sustaining so as to reduce dependence on government for the provision of services.

Darius Ishaku then made a personal donation of two million Naira to assist the center in its research work and encouraged the Agency to go into partnership with Advanced Manufacturing Technology Programme, Jalingo AMT-P, stressing that with proper partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, the Bioresources center will go a long way in meeting its lofty objectives.

The Governor then directed the state Commissioner of Science and Technology to immediately liaise with NASENI so that those that will be trained at the Bioresources center will be presented with relevant implements of their training at their graduation.

Earlier, the coordinator of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa informed the Governor that the Bioresources Development Center was established in the State in 2012 and the basic function of the Agency is research and training, basically in Biotechnology.

Conducting the Governor, Darius Ishaku and his Deputy, Haruna Manu round some of the researches carried out by the Agency, Dr. Jummai Adamu said so far the center has conducted researches on moringa and has developed moringa tea, Shea butter, Jatropha biofuel and cake which is being used as cake for animal feeds as well converting the bye product into organic fertilizers.

Other areas touched by the Agency included the domestication of Grass cutter, which she explained that the meat of the animal is said to be very effective in the treatment Diabetes, Dog breeding, the processing of Yam flour, Plantain Flour, processing and bottling of palm wine, poultry and fish farming all using locally sourced materials.

Dr. Jummai Adamu said the Agency has 217 staff of which 70% of them are indigenes of the state while the other 30% are from other parts of the Country and used the opportunity to intimate Governor on some of the problems being faced by the center which she mentioned to include lack of transformer that will help the center power some of their machines asserting most of their work requires constant electricity.

Other problems included lack of classrooms for both theory and practical and a culvert to immediately help stop the threat of erosion within the gate of the center.

She said the Center has trained over 1600 persons in various skills from 2012 to date and solicited for a harmonious working partnership with state Government positing that Taraba state is fertile ground for the center considering the enormous resources the state is blessed with.

On his way to the National Biotechnology Agency, Governor Darius Ishaku and his entourage briefly stopped over to inspect the on going bridge construction at Mayo Dassa, which is almost 70%, completed   

10 dead as ethnics groups clash in Taraba

At least 10 persons have been feared killed and several houses set ablaze in a renewed violence that broke out in Taraba State.

The bloody clash occurred between the Shumo and Wurkum ethnic groups in Karim Lamido local government area of the state.

The violence erupted around 2am on Friday when Shumo ethnic group was attacked by suspected Wurkum youths.

The attack on the Shumo village led to reprisals attacks on Didango, a Wurkum community.
Joseph Kwaji, who is the Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba confirmed the incident. He, however, said only two persons lost their lives.

He said: “Some suspected Shumo youths invaded and attacked Didango village.“Two people were killed.”

Approval of Appointments: College of Nursing and Midwifery

The Taraba State Governor has approved the appointment of 8 Academic Staff of the College of Nursing and Midwifery.
 
This was stated by the commissioner of Health, Doctor Innocent Vakkai during the inspection of ongoing projects at the  College of Nursing and Midwifery permanent site and level of academic activities in the college.

 During his inspection the commissioner encouraged the students to work hard at attaining their goals. Speaking with our correspondent, the Principal, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kiloh Nfor appreciated the state Governor and the Commissioner for their gesture, saying they will impact more to the students.

While commending the priority given to educational standards, the students disclosed that they are faced with a lot of challenges which include lack of water, power supply and a cyber cafe among others.

Briefing the press on the level of construction, the constructor in charge, Mr Anthony Yakiah of Manorgrove Enterprise Nigeria LTD said the company is fixing pipe lines which by the middle of May 2016 water and power supply will be made available.

Source: Taravoices

Taraba State House Commitee On Security Submits Report On Gashaka Killings

There is possibility that the attackers of some communities in Gashaka and Bali recently, which resulted to so many deaths may have colluded with fulani residents in the affected communities.

 This was made known in the observations and findings of the House committee on Public Petitions, Internal Security, Ethics and Privileges on the killing of villagers by herdsmen in Gashaka LGA.

Presenting the report before the House on Tuesday 19th April, 2016, Chairman of the committee, Charles Maijankai, PDP, Karim 1 constituency, observed that, ‘the village of Dori of Garbabi ward was invaded by fulani herdsmen after murdering a Dori woman who went to the farm between 8th and 9th April, 2016 and that on Sunday when the villagers were worshipping in the church, the herdsmen attacked villagers both in the churches and at home.

Secondly, the attackers of the village of Dori are Fulani herdsmen from outside the village. They were mostly in military uniforms, shooting guns, the type of which could not be ascertained.

The committee does not rule out collusion by the Fulanis residing in the village.       
In its findings the committee noted that the refugees both at Mayo Salbe and Kungana were mainly non-fulani and that there were no Fulani refugees found in any of these camps or anywhere else in the  affected areas.This indicates that the attacks were aimed at the non-fulani residents of these communities.                                  

 The committee therefore recommended that security be ‘beefed up in Gashaka and Bali Local Government Areas’, and that traditional rulers be called to order by the executive arm. Also the issue of influx of strangers,  the need for vigilante groups, the need to restore security votes of local governments, and the plight of the refugees form part of the recommendations.

The committee was made of the following:  Charles Maijankai as Chairman, Hamman Adama Abdullahi, Vice Chairman, Hosea Ibbi, Douglas N.Yahaya, and Bashir Mohammed as members while Jeheziel M.Hivi was Secretary.

 However it was observed that a member, Bashir Mohammed, APC, Nguroje constituency,  did not sign the report. While the Chairman was presenting the report he skipped the name of the member who refused to sign, but was called to order by the Speaker who stated that for the fact he did not append his signature did not exclude him as a member of the committee and would not effect the report.


Source: Taravoices

Taraba Govt, Police Debunk Killing of 50 Cattle Breeders

Taraba state government and police authorities in the state have described the purported killing of 50 cattle breeders in the state as a misleading falsehood and calculated attempt to heighten the scourge of violence in the state.

The Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Taraba state chapter, Alhaji Sahabi Mahmud was said to have alleged that 50 Cattle breeders were killed in a fresh crisis in the state.

In a statement made available to journalists in Jalingo which was signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, the state government described the report as a calculated effort by the leadership of Miyetti Allah to make mockery of the recent killings of 44 people in the state by Fulani herdsmen.

In the same vein, the state police command has equally described the report as complete falsehood as it declared that there was no record or report of the purported killing, saying it was a figment of the imagination of the authors.

Debunking the report credited to Mahmud, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joseph Kwaji, said there was no such incident in the state, and wondered why such a sensitive report would not be cross checked with the police before publication.

According to him, “The report is not true. There is no such incident. I want to advise journalists to always cross check with the police before publishing such sensitive reports in the interest of peace and security.”

The statement issued by Giwa stated that: “The attention of Taraba State Government has been drawn to a publication captioned: ‘50 cattle breeders killed in fresh Taraba crisis’ dated April 13, 2016, in the Daily Trust newspaper and credited to the chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Taraba State chapter, Sahabi Mahmud.

“As a matter of fact, the report is not only misleading, false and mischievous but an attempt to scale up the promotion of crisis in the state. The purported publication is also a calculated effort by the leadership of Miyetti Allah to make a mockery of the victims of the recent attacks by the Fulani herdsmen who allegedly carry sophisticated weapons and use same to unleash terror on the harmless and helpless innocent people of Dori, Maisuma,Angai, and Fali villages in Gashaka and parts of kurmi Local Government Areas of the state.”

The state government further noted that the position of Miyetti Allah as captured by the paper could best be described as a ploy to shield its members who are strongly suspected to be responsible for the attacks on the aforementioned communities.

To further puncture the allegations, Giwa noted that the Miyetti Allah chairman failed to present the photographs of his members who were purportedly killed in the crisis as was done by the police and the state government while presenting the gory details of the 44 people killed by the herdsmen.

He equally stated that it is unfortunate and disheartening that an association like Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria is not looking at the need for oneness irrespective of background but weeping up religious sentiment into the recent attacks on the innocent villagers who have lived for decades without any crisis.

Taraba Goverment Tackles Miyetti Allah over Allegations of Killing

‎Following the recent claims by the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders of Nigeria that 50 of its members were killed in fresh attacks, Taraba State government has refuted the claim by the state chapter of the association, describing it ‎as complete falsehood.

The stated government also said it was a ploy by the association to shield its members who are strongly believed to have carried out the attacks.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Silvanus Giwa said‎: “The claim by the leadership of Miyetti Allah was a mockery of the victims of the recent attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen who allegedly carried sophisticated weapons and used same to unleash terror on harmless and innocent people of Dori, Maisuma, Angai and Fali villages in Gashaka and parts of Kurmi local government areas of the state.”

He explained that the chairman of the association who addressed a press briefing in Jalingo on the incident failed to present evidence (photographs) of his members that were purportedly killed in the crisis.

Giwa stated: “The police and state government on the other hand presented gory photographs of the victims to buttress every point on the matter. Therefore, looking at the scenario, who is telling lies to cause harm than good in this matter?”

The governor’s aide noted that it was disheartening for the chairman who is a civilian to assume the position of a security chieftain by suggesting which measures should be adopted by the commissioner of police on how people believed to be culpable in the crisis should be treated; “simply because his member, one Ardo Ayuba, was arrested in connection with the crisis.”

“Intelligence report has it that the crisis started in the area when some suspected herdsmen killed a woman believed to be Ndoro by tribe when she resisted to be raped by them on her farm, contrary to what Miyetti Allah said”, Giwa said.

He said‎, “Taraba state governor, Arc Darius Ishaku has continued to emphasise the need for harmony and peaceful coexistence among the various communities in the state since he assumed office”.
The State chapter of the association had reportedly said at least 50 of its members had been killed in the current crisis between herdsmen and Ndoro people in Gashaka Local Government Area of the State.

Source : Thisday