Taraba Farmers Abandon Homes, Relocate To Farms Over Crop Theft

Increasing cases of theft of farm produce has forced many farmers in Taraba State to relocate to their farms to safeguard their crops.

Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria  in Jalingo, Gassol, Lau, Ardo-Kola, Gashaka, Karim-Lamido and Bali Local Government Areas revealed that farmers now keep 24-hour watch over both harvested crops and those yet to be harvested.

The Chairman of Taraba Rice Farmers’ Association, Alhaji Hassan Abubakar, told NAN on Saturday in Jalingo that some farmers had lost tonnes of grains – mainly rice, cowpea and maize – to thieves who normally invaded the fields at night.

He said rising demand for farm produce and attendant attractive prices in markets could be responsible for the rampant cases of crop theft.

Alhaji Muntari Ajuji, a large scale farmer in Sabon-Gida, Gassol Local Government Area, said he had to hire five security guards to watch over each of his three farms.

Similarly, Alhaji Ali Maihula, a farmer from Bali Local Government Area, told NAN that he had been practically living in one of his farms, while his children and other family members took care of his other farms during the day, and hired guards at night.

The farmer added that he had adopted early evacuation of crops from fields to his home to ensure their safety.

A farmer at Bembal Village in Gassol Local Government Area, Malam Buba Musa, told NAN that his family had been keeping vigil in his farms after some thieves harvested his maize at night.

He said the maize was mature and about to be harvested but was stolen few days to the planned harvest day.

“Thieves sneaked in overnight and made away with more than half of crops from the three-hectre farm,’’ he said.

Mr Dauda Wada, a leader of a local community security group, popularly referred to as ‘Yan banga’ in Northern Nigeria, told NAN in Mutum-Biyu that cases of theft of farm produce had become rampant.

He said many of such theft had been reported to the group but only few arrests had been made because the thieves operated mostly at midnight.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba, ASP David Misal, said although no produce theft had been reported to the command, he could not rule out the possibility.
NAN

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National Association Of Jukun Students Pledges Support To Prof. Kundiri, FUWukari New VC

The Jukun Students Community under the unbrella of National Association of Jukun Students, (NAJUS), has declared total support for the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Wukari, Taraba State, Prof. Abubakar Musa Kundiri.

Speaking earlier today, Comrade Hope Daniel Vyonku, National President of NAJUS, expresses optimism over the appointment of the new VC whom he noted as God-sent. He said, "we are confident in his administration because his past records and achievements speaks volume". The entire Jukun students under my leadership will give him all the neccessary support to turn the institution around into a first class citadel of learning".

Comrade Hope also told TarabaSquare that the new VC has hit the ground running, getting to work immediately in other to bring about more developmental projects.

The Vice-Chancellor during one of his speech has disclosed that he is the “Vice-Chancellor of Students.”  “I will initiate the process of forming Student Union in the University as soon as I settle down for business because I know the importance of that union to students in the University world over,” he declared.

Comrade Vyonku while assuring Prof Kundiri, that the prayers of all the Jukun people are with him to succeed, called on all stakeholders in Taraba to support government at the federal level so that Taraba State will get more federal attention.

Prof. Kundiri is a professor of Agriculture, who was one time a Dean, Student Affairs, University of Maiduguri and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of Federal University Dutse.

Comrade Hope Daniel Vyonku: A Quiet Youth Crusader For Restoration Of Lost Values In Taraba State

Youth Advocacy in Taraba State is a timely vision born out of necessity, the need for a peaceful productive and coordinated youth participation was seen my Comrade Hope Daniel Vyonku.  

It is important to note that where illiteracy and insensitivity mastered as king, wastage and underdevelopment becomes a priority amidst lack, want and needs.

As a youth, Comrade Daniel had grown seeing Taraba and its teeming youths with immense potentials and a great future. A one time former SUG Vice President of Adamawa State Polytechnic, he has used this God given position to ensure that students of Taraba origin seeking admission into the Polytechnic were assisted in the admission process. And it is on record that more indigenes from Taraba State were admitted during his time as President. A selfless youth, who carried his people along.

In Taraba today, people younger than 30 are a majority of the population. Engaging young people to peacefully participate in the state political process and giving them a stake in the state future is a critical factor in changing the fortune of this state.

Comrade Hope Daniel Vyonke is becoming actively involve in youth matters and his leadership experience could prove beneficial to whatever policy the Darius led administration might be having.

Comrade Daniel had also once served as the a Diploma President in FUT Yola and was again in the past, the Welfare Director, National Association of Taraba State Students. When a young man has given is all to making sure that youths across the state are lifted up, polished and have same opportunity like their mates in other states, i suggest they be given the chance to get involve and give them meaningful roles to play because there is no doubt, youth participation in policy making is fast becoming a norm.

As the current National President of National Association of Jukun Students (NAJUS), Comrade that has brought a lasting unity that has long eluded the youth. Building bridges and just recently acquired a bus for the association and also putting in to place the achitectural plan of errecting an office building. This positive unionism and a yard stick for all self acclaimed youths leaders in Taraba State to look up to.

Comrade Vyonke, who has plenty of leadership positions under is belt, is also the President of North East Youths Initiative Forum (NEYIF) and the Secretary of Joint Campus Committee of National Association of Nigerian Students ( JCC - NANS).  With these and many more impressive resume, Comrade Daniel is all out to ensure the inclusive and peaceful participation of youth in the political process and help develop the next generation of political, government and civil society youth leaders.

 As the National President of Jukun Youths, Comrade Vyonke understands the cultural diversity of the communities that made up the state. He creates this awareness of cultural context to assist youth in better understanding the impact of their cultures on their own values and plans.

In 2015, Comrade Hope, took is unionism and love for Taraba State to another level, when he became the first student to persuade and led a delegation of University Senators, numbering about 40 from across the nation for Governor Ishaku's election campaign. And it may interest you to know that he put together a summit canvasing for him.

In some states that understand youth dynamism, such human talent and brain would be utilized and well engaged. There is no doubt, Taraba has energetic and vibrant youths with genuine ideas of how to move the state forward. And so i think the government of the day should start engaging these youths, ensuring that their creativities are properly harnessed.

In my opinion, i believe Taraba State will have a good in leader in Comrade Hope Daniel Vyonke in what ever leadership position he finds himself. A visionary young man who has proven himself worthy and who doesn't settle for less.

Taraba State University Investigates Robbery In Girls’ Hostel

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Jalingo, Dr Catherine Musa, said on Tuesday that investigation has commenced into report of a robbery incident in the girls’ hostel of the institution. 

Musa disclosed that a committee had been set up to find out how the girls were robbed of their valuables in the middle of the night and the response of the university’s security personnel.

The vice chancellor told newsmen in Jalingo that reports indicated that the girls were robbed of 18 handsets, two laptop, a tablet computer, some amount of money and other valuables.

“I was told that at about 3a.m, someone went into the hostel and robbed the girls of their valuables, including phones and computers. “The girls themselves believe they were charmed because all of them were deep asleep and only woke up to discover that their phones and other valuables were stolen. 

“We have already set up a committee to investigate the matter and I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of their investigation, but I know we are going to do something to prevent a reoccurrence of such,” she said.

Musa urged the state government to fence the university, to enhance security. She recalled that due to the porous nature of the university, the house of a lecturer, Dr. Hassan Garba, was recently burgled.

APC Tackles PDP in Taraba Over Ambassadorial Nominee

While the Taraba PDP celebrated and hailed the President for nominating the former executive secretary of TETFUND, the APC condemned the nomination. 

It said that Jeji does not deserve the appointment and called on the president to reverse his nomination. Taraba State PDP Chairman, Mr. Victor Bala Kona, told reporters on Tuesday that the party is happy with  Jaji’s nomination.

In an interview with journalist at his residence in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, Kona said the PDP was very happy and commended President Buhari for considering a worthy son of Taraba State to be on the ambassadorial list, which shows that Taraba state was also considered in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

High  profile 

Kona said anyone opposed to the decision of President in nominating Jaji is against the interest of Taraba State. “Mustafa that I know is well educated, he is a Nigerian, he is experienced. He has a high profile that qualifies him to represent Nigeria in any part of the world. Therefore, I don’t know why some quarters would like to associate his nomination with political insinuations. “President Buhari has made a brilliant choice from Taraba State, we the PDP here are very happy with his choice and we celebrate with the nominee as we look forward to support him to succeed when he is finally appointed and posted to any part of the world for his assignment.” 

Buhari short-changed APC members in Taraba – Jika

Countering,  the Chairman of APC in Taraba State, Mallam Ardo Jika, in a telephon chat with Vanguard, said the nomination of Mustafa Jeji was against the promise of President Buhari to APC members not only in Taraba state but also across the country. He said the president did not consulted the state executive or representatives of the APC in Taraba state at the national level before the nomination. Recalling that the President had promised to reward party loyalists for their hard labour before the election, he wondered why the president would dump those who worked for him and the party to reward those who worked against the party in the last general elections.

His words: “As far as APC is concerned in Taraba State, nobody contacted us or informed us. Again, Mustafa Jeji has never, by error of commission or omission,  been a member of APC in Taraba State. From his ward, everybody knows that Mustafa Jeji is a registered member of PDP” “We are repeating president Buhari’s statement, which he made to us that there will never be a situation where someone will be taking drugs on behalf of a sick person. So I believe this nomination did not come from Buhari, somebody might have suggested the name to him wrongly” 

“I believe Mr. President will reverse the name because we know him as a man of his words because he said whoever suffered for APC and voted for APC would be rewarded. That was what we heard him saying at our last NEC meeting. All our party executives, members of our state assembly and National Assembly are not in support of the nomination because the nomination will dampen the moral of  APC supporters.’’

3 Persons Killed In Taraba By Suspected Ritualists

There was pandemonium yesterday in Dobeli village in Gossal local government area of Taraba State when suspected ritualists killed three children between the age of 10, 7 and 6 and removed their heads.

Confirming the incident, the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, (Asp) David Misal said their lifeless bodies were found by the bank of a river in Dobeli Village when the children want to take their bath.

“It was those who went to fetch water from the river that saw their dead bodies and raised alarm” he said.
He explained that the three children belong to the same parents, adding that they went to take their bath in a river but never returned.

He informed that the command was ready to harness all available resources to have robust intelligence- driven policing to fetch out criminals in the state.
He assured the general public that the police would not condone any act capable of denting the image of the state.