Taraba: North, Central zones hold security consultative summit
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
The security consultative summits set aside by the Taraba State government to hold at the three zones of Northern, Central and Southern Districts of the State have started in Jalingo the State capital.
The Daily Monitor correspondent gathered that the security consultative summit for Northern Taraba involved all the personalities and critical stakeholders from the six LGAs of Jalingo, Ardo Kola, Yorro, Zing, Lau and Karim Lamido.
The summit started with North flagging-off the ceremony on Monday, and at the gymnastics hall of the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo. The summit for the Central zone took place on Wednesday, with the venue, at the Federal Polytechnic, Bali the administrative headquarters of the local government area of the State. “This involved the five LGAs of Gassol, Bali, Gashaka, Kurmi and Sardauna.
“The summit for Southern Taraba i.e the grand finale of the event will take place at Wukari, headquarters of Wukari local government area of the State on Friday, involving personalities from the five LGAs of Wukari, Ibi, Takum, Donga, Ussa and Yangtsu special development area.”
Speaking on the purpose of the summit with Journalists shortly in Jalingo, the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Chief (Bar.) Gebon Timothy Kataps said the summit was focused on promoting peace and security in Taraba State.
Chief Kataps who lauded the State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas for coming up with such an initiative, said the summit was to address security challenges such as kidnapping, banditry, and communal conflicts arising in some parts of the State.
He further disclosed that the Governor’s idea for coming up with such a programme was to collect ideas, suggestions, on how to better secure Taraba and the people at the grassroot.
“At the tail end of the day, we will gather all the reports from the three (3) zones and submit them to His Excellency and His Excellency is going to host the first Taraba security summit in July, 2026.
“I am so confident that the security consultative summit will bring about a more peaceful coexistence among the people of the State because Taraba is already secured.
“Taraba is safe and what His Excellency is doing is to make sure that he closes every loophole that may expose the State to danger. And that was why recently he released a statement suspending all mining activities in the State”, he added.
Also speaking in an interview shortly after the summit at Bali, the SGS further expressed happiness that the summit ended successfully and peacefully.
“The good news is that the people are happy with security position they are enjoying in the State and they have identified areas they want the government to improve on to ensure that they are safe and at peace always”, he said.
Chief (Bar) Gebon Timothy Kataps however, called on the people of Central zone to sustain the existing peace and harmony and to always notify the security agencies in situations of suspicious person in their midst.
Our correspondent noted that the Security Consultative Summit had the theme, “Listening to the Communities, securing the homeland, building Taraba’s security solution from grassroots.
