Taraba Communities Allege Territory Encroachment By Chief Of Gasol

The communities of Tella, Dubeli, Takai, Sabongida, Tunga Anguru, Dinya, Nafuche, Cholo, Gidan-Kusa, Nanguru, Yaku-Shamaki, Madani, Yaku Baba, Yaku Magaji and Garko under Kwarafa chiefdom in Gasol local government area of Taraba State have accused the chief of Gasol HRM Alhaji Idris Chiroma of encroaching his reign into their demarcated areas.

The communities, in large numbers, during a protest at the Kwararafa town formerly known as Dan-Anacha last weekend, also accused Chiroma of intimidation, harassment, police arrest and land grabbing.

While jointly addressing journalists during the protest, Mr Kefas Sabo and Bitrus Shishi, who spoke for the communities, said Kwararafa chiefdom was created out of Gasol chiefdom in 2018 under Taraba State chieftaincy amendment law 2018, which the State House of Assembly enacted.

“It is on record that shortly after the creation of Kwararafa chiefdom, the chief of Gasol declared war against the people of Kwararafa. He instituted three suits at the Jalingo High Court, opposing the map of the villages carved out of Gasol chiefdom to make up Kwararafa chiefdom.”

“Similarly, the chief of Gasol has been using police and court to harass, intimidate and detain 30 farmers from different communities under Kwararafa chiefdom, claiming that the villages fall under his administrative area.

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The community leaders, therefore, call on the Taraba state Governor Agbu Kefas to restrain Chiroma from encroaching into the chiefdom.

Responding, the chief of Gasol Alhaji Idris Chiroma dismissed the allegations as baseless and false.

Chiroma, while speaking with journalists at his official residence in Jalingo Taraba State capital on Sunday through his secretary Yanusa Umar, said the chief of Gassol had never visited the disputed areas or sent anyone to act on his behalf since the creation of Kwararafa chiefdom.

Commenting on the court cases, Yanusa said Chiroma had never been a party in all the cases.

“The stakeholders of Gassol actually went to court to challenge some of the villages carved out of Gassol chiefdom, and the cases were decided in favour of the Gassol stakeholders.

“The state government appealed against the judgement at the appeal court in Yola. So where has the Chief of Gassol come in here?

On the demand for royalties from the farmers of Kwararafa, Inusa said Chiroma could not descend too low to demand royalties from areas outside his domain.