Taraba Express

17/09/2025

President Bola Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, declaring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly will return to office from Thursday, September 18, 2025.

The President, in a statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, recalled that the state of emergency, first proclaimed on March 18, 2025, was necessary to halt what he described as the “total paralysis of governance” in Rivers.

“It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today,” Tinubu said.

He explained that the proclamation, backed by the National Assembly, suspended the governor, deputy governor, and state lawmakers for six months to restore peace after a bitter conflict between Governor Fubara and 27 lawmakers loyal to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, which left the state without a functioning government

President Bola Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, declaring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly will return to office from Thursday, September 18, 2025. The President, in a statement iss...

17/09/2025

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have neutralised two terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in Takum Local Government.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 3 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said troops received credible intelligence on September 15, 2025, regarding a planned attack on the Chanchanji community by the Bojo terrorist group and swiftly deployed to counter the threat.

“During an exchange of fire, some of the terrorists retreated into the forest. In a follow-up mission, troops pursued them to the Demeva–Gbudu axis, which was identified as a planned crossing point into Ananum community in Donga LGA. The troops engaged the remaining terrorists in a second firefight, and another terrorist was neutralised,” Danja said.

Items recovered from the terrorists include one G3 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a motorcycle.

The army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities in the state and urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies.

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have neutralised two terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in Takum Local Government. Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 3 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this i...

09/09/2025

Mubarak, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reported to have fallen ill three weeks ago and was receiving treatment in a hospital before his death.

Confirming the loss, a family source, Musa Khalib, described Mubarak as “a political legend” whose leadership will be deeply missed in Taraba and beyond.

Former House of Representatives member for Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency in Taraba State, Hon. Abdulsalam Gambo Mubarak, has passed away after a brief illness in Abuja. Mubarak, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reported to have fall...

04/09/2025

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04/09/2025

The Taraba State Police Command has arrested a suspect linked to the kidnapping of 100-year-old Joshua Ubandoma in Sabon Pegi, Ibi Local Government Area.

Ubandoma was abducted from his residence on August 6, 2025, by three armed men.

Police spokesperson ASP James Lashen Saminu said officers from the Ibi Division, working with local youths, traced the kidnappers into a nearby forest. The operation led to the arrest of 37-year-old Kingsley Alose on September 2.

He added that investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects and secure the safe release of the centenarian victim.

Commissioner of Police Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin commended the swift response of her officers, reaffirming the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

The Taraba State Police Command has arrested a suspect linked to the kidnapping of 100-year-old Joshua Ubandoma in Sabon Pegi, Ibi Local Government Area. Ubandoma was abducted from his residence on August 6, 2025, by three armed men. Police spokesperson ASP James Lashen Saminu said officers from the...

01/09/2025

A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday evening 31th August 2025 in Takum Local Government, where a teenage cigarette hawker lost his life following a dispute with a customer.

The victim, identified as Sani, was reportedly attacked near Danji Hotel along Wukari Junction around 8:00 p.m. Eyewitnesses said an argument ensued after a man allegedly purchased ci******es from the boy but refused to pay.

“When Sani insisted on being paid, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest,” a witness recounted.

Sani was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.

Residents who responded to his cry for help pursued the suspect, apprehended him, and handed him over to the police for further investigation.

A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday evening 31th August 2025 in Takum Local Government, where a teenage cigarette hawker lost his life following a dispute with a customer. The victim, identified as Sani, was reportedly attacked near Danji Hotel along Wukari Junction around 8:00 p.m. Eyewitnesses sa...

01/09/2025

Yuuf confirmed his resignation in a letter submitted on Monday to the APC Zonal Chairman for Taraba South, citing a widening ideological gap between the party’s direction and the needs of his constituents.

“I was one of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress, and I have served diligently as a ward chairman. However, I have come to terms with a difficult truth: there is a growing disconnect between my convictions, the realities I observe, and the actual needs of the people I represent,” he said.

The former ward chairman noted that his decision was the product of “deep thought and careful reflection,” while expressing gratitude to the APC for the platform and to his supporters for their backing throughout his tenure.

Yuuf’s defection adds to the wave of exits from the APC in Taraba, especially in the southern zone. Only weeks ago, a former member of the House of Representatives for Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency, Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi, also left the party for the ADC.

The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered another setback as its Bilga Ward Chairman in Ibi Local Government Area, Mr. Yusuf Yuuf, resigned his position and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Yuuf confirmed his resignation in a letter submitted on M...

28/08/2025

Addressing the protesters, the ASUU Chairperson, Prof. Mercy Asabe, accused the federal government of consistently reneging on agreements with the union, thereby worsening the conditions of academic staff across the country.

She particularly rejected the newly introduced Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund loan scheme, insisting that lecturers deserve improved salaries and welfare, not loans.

“The loan scheme is unacceptable, and stands rejected,” Asabe declared.
“We want the federal government to implement the already signed agreements, pay the Union’s Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and restore revitalization funds. The N50 billion recently released is not up to 10 percent of what is owed.”

Lecturers at the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Wednesday staged a protest over what they described as the federal government’s neglect and failure to honour welfare agreements. Addressing the protesters, the ASUU ...

24/08/2025

The ban specifically targets popular social events such as Kauyawa and Ajo parties, which are known for drawing large gatherings of youths who often dress in shabby clothing and dance late into the night.

The Muslim Council of Taraba State has announced a ban on all forms of wedding parties within Jalingo, the state capital. The decision, according to the council, followed consultations with Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, and local authorities. The ban specifically targets popular social events...

23/08/2025

Breaking News: Reckless Driver Kills Two in Jalingo

Eyewitnesses say the driver, who had earlier knocked down a pedestrian around the Mechilin area, refused to stop. Instead, he sped off, sparking a dramatic chase through the city.

In a tragic twist, the fleeing vehicle rammed into a tricycle (Keke), crushing its occupants. Two people were confirmed dead on the spot, including a woman whose heartbreaking video has since gone viral on social media.

What should have been a normal day in Jalingo has turned into a scene of sorrow after a reckless driver caused a fatal crash that claimed two lives just moments ago. Eyewitnesses say the driver, who had earlier knocked down a pedestrian around the Mechilin area, refused to stop. Instead, he sped off...

23/08/2025

News Update: Taraba PDP Faces Fire Over Alleged LG Candidate

Taraba State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing mounting internal tensions following its alleged decision to directly select candidates for the forthcoming local government elections, sidelining many incumbent chairmen and party loyalists.

The controversial process, reportedly influenced by Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, led to the replacement of 13 out of the 16 serving local government chairmen.

Some of the affected chairmen, who spoke under condition of anonymity, expressed dismay at what they described as an exclusionary process. They claimed they were neither consulted nor informed before the list of candidates was finalised.

“If given the opportunity, I would have loved to re-contest. I was shocked to hear that someone else had been picked to replace me without any prior discussion,” one of the chairmen said.

However, the PDP leadership has dismissed allegations of imposition.

The party’s spokesperson, Iremeya Andeta’rang, insisted that due process was followed. “There was no imposition whatsoever. The selection process was transparent and involved all necessary stakeholders. Just because some individuals were not selected does not mean the process was flawed,” he said.

Defending Governor Kefas, Andeta’rang added: “It’s ironic that some of these same chairmen were beneficiaries of similar processes when they came into office. Now they are crying foul because the outcome didn’t favour them.”

As the November elections draw closer, analysts caution that how the PDP manages the growing discontent could shape not only its local government prospects but also its broader performance in the 2027 general elections.

The Taraba State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing mounting internal tensions following its alleged decision to directly select candidates for the forthcoming local government elections, sidelining many incumbent chairmen and party loyalists. The controversial process, reported...

03/08/2025

Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have successfully rescued Engineer Joshua Saleh, a lecturer at Taraba State University, from captivity.

In a statement issued by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, it was revealed that Saleh was abducted by suspected criminals on July 31, 2025, along the Chinkai–Kente–Wukari road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Acting on credible and actionable intelligence, troops—working closely with DSS operatives—launched a focused search and rescue mission across several strategic locations, including Kente, Sondi 1 and 2, Yaku, and the Warawa general area.

According to the statement, the operation led to direct contact with the kidnappers, resulting in a gun battle between the troops and the criminals.

“Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and pressure, the criminals fled the scene, abandoning the victim,” he stated.

Engineer Saleh was found unharmed during the operation and was promptly rescued.

Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, Commander of the 6 Brigade and Sector 3 OPWS, praised the troops for their courage and professionalism. He commended their swift response, tactical precision, and seamless collaboration with other security agencies in executing the successful rescue.

Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have successfully rescued Engineer Joshua Saleh, a lecturer at Taraba State University, from captivity. In a statement issued by Lieutenant Uma...