Taraba raises ECC to 25 nationwide - ITREALMS

The Taraba State's Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) joined the existing operational centres in 23 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to raise the number to 25 centers, reports ITREALMS.

These ECCs, ITREALMS gathered are currently located in the FCT, Adamawa, Imo, Enugu, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Plateau, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Ekiti, Cross River and Edo. Others are Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Osun, Zamfara, Kebbi and Gombe States.

Bako joins House of Reps race in Taraba - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

Friends and family members of Chief Benjamin Bako, longtime National President of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN) converge in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State, in show of solidarity and support for his political ambition, reports  ITREALMS.

Bako is running for the Federal House of Representatives, representing Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yanktu (development area) of Taraba State.

Spokesman of the group, Barrister Sopiya Danlami who eulogized Chief Benjamin Bako for his tremendous selfless service to humanity and the Jukun people, described him as  the best thing that has ever happened to Jukun nation and  urged the people to support him.

He said Bako has been able to prove, that he is reliable, dependable, trustworthy and accountable, a pedigree he said is very rare.

"Chief Bako is a champion of the causes of the common man and this is the right time to rally round him, ensure that he secures not only the ticket, but the vote that would qualify him to represent the people."

Chief Bako who said he was overwhelmed by the unprecedented show of love and solidarity from his people, said the presidency of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria has exposed him first hand to all the crisis facing his people and has developed for him, a deliberate roadmap towards solutions.

Bako said he was forced into running for the office by the abysmal failure of certain individuals occupying the position over the years to defend, protect and influence succour to his long suffering people using their exalted positions.

He pointed out that the loud cry of help from his people attracted his attention to come to the rescue and replicate what he has used the Presidency of the association to achieve at the national level and reposition his people for the new challenges confronting his people in a democratised and transformed Nigeria.

He concluded that his track records has singled him out as the individual with the zeal and burning passion to unite his people across tribal and religious divide ,using development and opportunities.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Jukuns carpet Army chief's defence of collusion in Taraba killings

ITREALMS:

The Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN) has rejected in its entirety the report by a panel set up by the Nigerian Army to probe allegation of collusion of Nigerian soldiers in the pogrom going on in some parts of Taraba State, where Fulani herdsmen have allegedly been killing farmers and innocent villagers, reports ITRealms.

 At a press conference in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, JDAN National President Chief Bako Benjamin said the panel's report, falls far short of expectations and can at best be described as a shoddy job fit for the waste bin.

He lamented that rather than give hope of justice, to the families of the innocent farmers and other villagers hacked down by the herdsmen, the Army merely engaged in "empty rhetoric" of setting up of panels to cleanse themselves of wrong doings, a practice, for which he said, they are becoming notorious.

According to him, the Nigerian Army yet again missed another opportunity to cleanse itself of allegations of gross abuse leveled against them not only by Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma but by a number of other human rights organisations including Amnesty International (AI).

“The Nigerian army panel did a very poor and unprofessional job and wasted the opportunity to scribble their names in gold. The report is unacceptable to Jukun people and therefore it is hereby rejected in its entirety,” he said.

It was in response to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s remarks on the 10-member committee set up to probe former Defence Minister Maj.-Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma’s allegation of military’s involvement in the pogrom going on in Taraba. Buratai had said there was no truth in the allegations, urging the people to have confidence in the soldiers posted to the area to defend them against the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

 He wondered why the principal characters (Fulani herdsmen) accused of precipitating the crisis that gave birth to General Danjuma's allegations was never mentioned in the report.

The panel, he further stated, almost completely avoided the main subject of the matter which is the attacks and killing of farmers and innocent villagers, but was addressing porous borders and past misunderstandings between brothers in a deliberate attempt to stir up tempers and portray Jukuns as historically troublesome.

 “It is also curious that the panel deliberately refused to use a single material out of the hundreds of documented paper works, audio and video recordings of eye witnesses, community leaders and youth groups with shocking and gruesome evidences of ethnic cleansing and genocide in more than 20 villages across southern Taraba,” he said. 

Benjamin said Amnesty International’s claims and conclusions against the Nigerian Army are not far-fetched. The Nigerian army must come to terms with the enormous responsibility that rest on their shoulders to keep this country united, it must also realise that it owes Nigerian citizens a duty to be unbiased and thoroughly professional under a democratic government. It must completely shun the temptation to play to the gallery.  

According to him, Buratai’s defence has gone to confirm that it is increasingly likely that the Nigerian Army does not know where to draw the line between defending the nation and enforcing and controlling indiscipline within its ranks.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Buhari commences visit to Taraba, Benue, Yobe, Zamfara, Rivers States

ITREALMS:

President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced official visit to some five security troubled states across the country, including Taraba, Benue, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers States, reports ITRealms.

Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, revealed this to ITRealms, attributing the visit to recent terrorist attacks, criminal activities and communal clashes in some States leading to tragic loss of lives and kidnapping of 110 schoolgirls.

Based on the reports from Armed Forces and Security agencies, President Buhari decided to pay personal visits to the affected states.

According to Adesina, from today, March 5, Buhari will visit Taraba, and subsequently Benue, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers States.

“President Buhari has been receiving daily briefings, and has been in constant touch with the Governors, and has been updated with situation reports,” he said.

Further, he said, the President called on all Nigerians especially those in the affected areas to cooperate fully with the security agencies to enable them curb the spate of crimes, bring those responsible to justice and prevent further occurrences.

Gbemi Ayandokun Omotoso 

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