The Nyakwala community in the Wukari local government area of Taraba has appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to intervene in the Matar-Fada chieftaincy and the boundary demarcation between Nyakwala and Bantaje communities.
In a press statement issued to journalists on behalf of the Nyakwala community, and signed by her leaders, Engr. Irimiya Danji Barau and Prince Collins Umar, the community alleged that the decision of former governor Darius Ishaku regarding the chieftaincy stool of Matar-Fada and the boundary demarcation between Nyakwala and Bantaje was unpopular and likely to disrupt peace in the area.
“As a community, we are faced with a number of challenges that tend to threaten the peace and tranquillity of Nyakwala and her environs as a result of the unpopular decisions of the previous government as it affects the Chieftaincy stool of Matar-Fada and the boundary demarcation between Nyakwala and Bantaje.
“We want to appeal to Governor Kefas to intervene in the matter to avoid the situation that may result in violence in the area.
“We wish to inform Governor Kefas that the appointment of Manu Bala Gani as the acting district head of Matar-Fada which led to his promotion to the third Class Chief was done in error after 18 years of the stool being vacant.
“The appointment was challenged in court and the court held that the stool belonged to Nyakwala and the Nyakwala ruling family.
“We want to also draw the attention of the governor to the fake administrative map designed through the conspiracy of the chiefs of Bantaje and Matar-Fada, claiming that Nyakwala as a community has been carved out of Matar-Fada chiefdom just to discourage our quest to reclaim our stool which has been taken away from us in error. The map does not have the approval of the government, neither, does not have the seal of any government agency.
“The fake boundary demarcation projected by the aforementioned chiefs has posed a serious security threat in our area as our traditional fish ponds have been seized from us and hoodlums entering our farms land claiming that the entire area which is in Nyakwala in Matar-Fada Chiefdom have been carved out of Bantaje Chiefdom.
“In view of the above, we wish to appeal to governor Kefas to constitute a judicial committee of inquiry to review the appointment of the Chief of Matar-Fada (Manu Bala Gani). Governor Kefas should direct the chief of Bantaje to stay clear from Nyakwala and her environs and investigate the source of the fake map being paraded by the chief.
“In the interest of Justice, we appeal to the governor to consider the appointment of a new district head of Matar-Fada from Nyakwala, pending the review of the third class chief status which also belongs to the Nyakwala community of the local government,” the statement read.
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