Community protests alleged harassment by Taraba monarch

Hundreds of residents  of Kwararafa chiefdom in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State have staged  a  protest against alleged harassment by  the  paramount  ruler of Gassol chiefdom, Alhaji Idi Chiroma.

The protesters alleged that the chief of Gassol chiefdom from where Kwararafa chiefdom was created  was forcing them  to pay him royalties on farmlands and  fishing ponds, even when they were not under him.

The protesters, however, appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to stop the paramount ruler  from meddling in the affairs of Kwararafa chiefdom.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions, some of which read: “Idi Chiroma must leave our land,” “Governor Kefas, stop Chiroma from harassing and intimidating our farmers”, and “Enough is enough of
intimidation, police arrest and detention of Kwararafa farmers.”

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Mr. Kefas Sabo, spokesperson of Kwararafa chiefdom  said Kwararafa chiefdom was created by law from the Gassol chiefdom and therefore Alhaji Idi Ciroma, has  no legal rights to force them to pay him royalty for farm in their chiefdom.

“Kwararafa was one of the 47 chiefdoms created by the former governor Darius Ishaku, in 2018, under the Taraba State chieftaincy amendment law 2018, enacted by the Taraba State House of Assembly” he said

Sabo, stated further that the villages of Tella, Dobeli, Dissol, Takai, Sabon gida, Tunga anguli, Dinya, Nafuche, Yaku cholo, Gidan kussa, Nanguru, Yaku shamaki, Madani, Yaku Baba, Yaku Magaji and Garko were all carved out of Gassol chiefdom to form the Kwararafa chiefdom.

He alleged that shortly after the creation of the chiefdom, Alhaji Idi Chiroma instituted three suits in the Jalingo High Court opposing the creation of Kwararafa chiefdom which he lost

Sabo further alleged that  the chief of Gassol  also filed 39 other cases in various courts in the state against the peasant farmers of Kwararafa chiefdom.

“The chief of Gassol is using security agencies  and courts to harass, intimidate, arrest  farmers from different villages in  Kwararafa chiefdom   claiming that those villages fall under his  domain.” Sabo alleged.

When contacted over the protest, the Chief told Daily Trust that he was in the hospital where his senior brother was admitted.

He however asked our reporter to contact Senator Ibrahim Goje who will react over the matter.

Goje, however dismissed the allegations, saying the protesters are claiming they are not in Kwararafa chiefdom but are all  in Gassol chiefdom

Also, the  secretary of the Gassol chiefdom, Mallam  Yunusa Gassol, said the protesters were out to malign and damage the reputation of their traditional ruler and his office.

Mallam Yunusa stated that the villages in Kwararafa chiefdom were defined in the law establishing the chiefdom.

He explained that law that created Kwararafa Chiefdom clearly shows that two districts were carved out of Gassol Chiefdom and the districts are  Yaku Shamaki and Kwararafa districts, as well as other villages, while Tella, Sabongida, Takai, Dissol, Nanguru are in Gassol chiefdom.

“It should be noted that His Royal Highness cannot descend too low to demand royalties from areas outside his domain. The allegations are mere lies aimed at denting the good image of His Royal Highness.

“And it should noted that  his Royal Highness has not instituted any case against anyone from Kwararafa as it was alleged by the mischief makers who are bent on dragging the person of the Chief of Gassol to public disrepute.” Yunusa stated.