Tensions Escalate in Taraba State as Residents Demand End to Chief’s Harassment

Residents of Kwararafa Chiefdom in Taraba State are calling on the state governor, Agbu Kefas, to intervene and put an end to what they describe as a "declaration of war" by the Chief of Gassol, Idris Chiroma. The protesters claim that the chief has been using security forces and the courts to intimidate and harass them, and have been demanding justice for over a year.

The protest, which took place over the weekend, was organized by the Kwararafa Chiefdom Residents’ Association, who alleged that the chief’s authority does not extend to their community. According to the group’s spokesperson, Kefas Sabo, cases of police harassment, arrests, and detentions worsened after the chief’s younger brother was elected to the House of Representatives in 2023.

The protesters also claimed that the chief has been uncomfortable with the creation of Kwararafa Chiefdom by former governor Darius Ishaku in 2018, and has filed three lawsuits against the formation of the chiefdom, all of which were ruled in favor of Kwararafa. In addition to the lawsuits, the chief has allegedly launched 39 separate legal cases against farmers in the chiefdom.

The protesters accused some officials from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of colluding with the chief to alter the original map of villages that were transferred from Gassol to form the Kwararafa Chiefdom. They also pleaded with the governor to prevent the chief from further encroachment on Kwararafa’s boundaries, which they said were clearly demarcated by law.

When reached for confirmation, the monarch spoke through one of the elders in Gassol chiefdom, describing the allegations as "baseless and false". The elder, Senator Ibrahim Goje, claimed that the protesters are not even members of the chiefdom they are claiming to represent.

The people of Kwararafa Chiefdom are demanding an end to the chief’s harassment and intimidation, and are calling on the state governor to take immediate action to address their concerns. The situation has raised questions about the role of traditional leaders in modern society and the need for effective governance in resolving conflicts.