NGADA-Kungana Land Dispute: Taraba Boundary Commission Calls For Calm
By Lynn Adda
The Taraba State Boundary Commission has called for calm in the rising tension between the Ndola NGADA and Kungana Chiefdoms over alleged land encroachment.
Hon Ibrahim Lawan who is Acting as the Chairman of the Boundary Commission in the absence of the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Alkali made the call shortly after receiving a complaint letter from a delegation from the Ngada special Development Area at the Sani Abacha Secretariat in Jalingo.
The delegation which was led by the Coordinator of NGADA Special Development Area, Mr Felix Garkera met with the Acting Chairman along with other members of the Boundary Commission, Alhaji Isa Hassan, Mrs Jemimah G. Danbeki and Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Dan’azumi.
In the complaint letter signed by 17 individuals comprising District and Village Heads as well as Youth Leaders cutting across several communities, they accused the Third Class Chief of Kungana of encroaching into Ndola NGADA Chiefdom.
According to them, the third class chief of Kungana is involved in making life unbearable for their people.
“He told our people that the executive Governor has given an executive order to the Taraba State Geographic Information System Services (TAGISS) to merge the following communities under Akweemam District of Ndola Ngada Chiefdom to his Chiefdom: i. Gidan Sabo ii. Garba I iii. Gidan Takum iv. Gidan Baushe, Seizing of our people’s farmlands thereafter selling and leasing them out. He turbaned one Mr Abednego Garba as village head of Garba II knowing fully well that Garba II is under Ndola NGADA Chiefdom. Seizing farmlands of Ndola people living in Kungana town who have been farming for over thirty years. Creating uneasiness for the free movement and selling of goods of our people in the area. We believe that this action is unauthorized and infringes upon the rights and boundaries of Ndola NGADA Chiefdom”.
They therefore pleaded with Governor Agbu Kefas to among others issue an order to stop the third class chief of Kungana from encroaching into Ndola NGADA Chiefdom, to stay away from anything in NGADA Special Development Area and order his stoppage of selling and leasing farmlands belonging to their people.
“Instruct the third class chief of Kungana to order Mr Abednego Garba whom he turbaned as village head inside NGADA to stop parading himself as village head because he is causing tension in the area. Stop Taraba State Geographic Information System Services TAGISS from carving out some communities from NGADA to be merged with Kungana Chiefdom. We will not accept such because before the creation of NGADA Special Development Area, Our people have suffered maltreatment from the Kungana people. So, now that we have been graciously granted Development Area by the state government, our people will not go back to be under Kungana chiefdom”.
The complainants who equally want the Taraba State Government to engage with both parties to resolve the issues amicably, stressed that they are compelled to seek the Governor’s intervention to protect the interests and territorial integrity of the Ndola NGADA Chiefdom to ensure peaceful living.
After studying the complaint, the Acting Chairman of the Taraba State Boundary Commission, charged the Coordinator of NGADA Special Development Area, Mr Felix Garkera to calm the people to prevent the situation from escalating to a crisis proportion.
Hon Ibrahim Lawal
He assured that the Commission whose mandate is to address such disputes, will liaise with the relevant agencies of government to resolve the issues, saying the Governor has been doing everything humanly possible to ensure peace in all parts of the state.
Hon Ibrahim Lawal said the Commission will seek approval to carry out an on the spot assessment to area to enable it present a comprehensive report to the Governor on how best to solve the conflict.
Other members of the Commission at the meeting, pointed out the instruments creating the two Chiefdoms will equally assist in the resolution of the lingering issues as the Commission collaborates with the disputing parties and other relevant agencies to resolve the matter in the interest of all to ensure peace and progress.
