Tangale Group Demands Transparency Over Plans For Ancestral Lands In Gombe

The Tangale Community Overseas (TCO) has called on the Gombe State government to publicly clarify allegations that portions of its ancestral highlands in Billiri local government area could be designated for pastoral settlement.It warned that any action affecting indigenous lands without community consent would be unacceptable.

In a statement issued yesterday in Gusau by the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA) North West Block said the Kwagam Tangle Socio-Cultural Association (KTSCA) and the Tangale Elders Forum (TEF),  expressed concern over reports first raised by the Centre for Justice on Religious and Ethnicity in Nigeria (CJREN).

CJREN had alleged in a statement dated June 24, 2026, that the state government was considering plans that could limit indigenous communities’ access to parts of the Tangale highlands while opening portions of the area for pastoral settlement.

The government has not responded to the allegations.

However, TCO said the reports had generated widespread concern among Tangale communities and deserved an official response.

“The Tangale homeland is not vacant land. It is not state property to be redistributed at will. It is the living inheritance of a people whose history predates modern administrative structures,” the organisation said.

According to TCO, any proposal to allocate, reclassify or restrict access to Tangale ancestral lands without what it described as the free, prior and informed consent of affected communities would violate both customary rights and internationally recognised principles protecting indigenous peoples.

The organisation called on the state government to disclose whether any discussions, policy proposals or official documents exist concerning the alleged plans.

Among its demands are the publication of all relevant documents, independent verification of land use in the affected areas, and assurances that no ancestral lands will be acquired or reassigned without transparent consultation with local communities.

TCO also questioned a recent public rejoinder issued by the Tangale Traditional Council, saying it did not directly address key issues raised by the allegations.

According to the organisation, the Council’s statement failed to clarify whether traditional rulers or other representatives participated in meetings with government officials concerning the reported land proposals.

“The Tangale people are entitled to the truth,” the statement said. “Silence, evasion and half-statements cannot substitute for accountability.”

The organisation further disputed assertions contained in the Council’s rejoinder that farming does not occur on the Tangale highlands, maintaining that many residents continue to cultivate farmland across the area and depend on it for their livelihoods.

It also called for independent verification of reported pastoral activities in parts of the Tangale homeland, including Kumana (Kufai), saying local residents had expressed concerns about increasing pressure on farmland.

TCO described the Tangale highlands as central to the identity and history of the Tangale people.

According to the organisation, the area contains ancestral settlements, sacred hills used for traditional religious observances, the historic site of the former Mai Tangle Palace, and early Christian mission sites, including the first church and first school established in Tangale land.

The organisation argued that any policy affecting these locations without meaningful consultation would amount to cultural dispossession.

It also warned that restrictions on access to farmland could threaten food production and household incomes for farming communities across the area.

Part of TCO’s statement focused on the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the traditional stool of the Mai Tangle.

The organisation said questions concerning the legitimacy of the current occupant of the stool remain before the courts and argued that institutions whose authority is being challenged in ongoing litigation should not be regarded as speaking conclusively on behalf of the Tangale people on matters relating to ancestral lands.

TCO referred to earlier announcements by the Tangale Community Development Association establishing an alternative cultural custodianship structure known as the Tangale PONAR, following disagreements over the traditional leadership.

The organisation maintained that, until the legal disputes are resolved, the government should exercise caution in relying on any single institution as representing the collective position of the Tangale people.

The group urged the Gombe State Government to issue an immediate public clarification addressing whether any plans exist concerning Tangale ancestral lands and identifying any consultations that may have taken place.

It also called for the release of all relevant documents and communications relating to the issue and requested independent assessments of reported land-use developments within the affected communities.

In addition, TCO asked the government to provide assurances that no ancestral land would be acquired or reclassified without the informed consent of affected indigenous communities.

The organisation appealed to residents to remain peaceful while pursuing their concerns through lawful means.

“We reject secrecy. We reject exclusion. We reject any process that treats our ancestral homeland as disposable,” the statement said.

As of the time of filing this report, the Gombe State Government had not publicly responded to TCO’s latest statement.