Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has condemned the brutal assassination of the Gara of Chanchagi, Alhaji Tanimu Kunbiya, and his son, Yusuf Kunbiya, which occurred on Friday evening in Takum Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by Emmanuel Bello, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Digital Communications, Governor Kefas described the murders as barbaric and called on security agencies to swiftly apprehend the culprits.
“Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has received with deep sadness the news of the death of the Gara of Chanchagi, HRH, Alhaji Tanimu Kunbiya, and his son, Yusuf. Governor Kefas described as tragic the manner in which the revered monarch and his son were ambushed and killed while returning from a funeral in Takum. The governor has ordered immediate investigations and emphasized that the perpetrators must be brought to justice promptly.”
Governor Kefas urged the residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out their duties. He assured the public that his administration would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.
“The governor, while calling for calm among Takum residents, vowed to exhaust all resources to bring the criminals to justice. He reiterated his commitment to eradicating lawlessness and brigandage, stressing that the era of banditry and criminality in Taraba State is over.”
Dr. Kefas also extended his condolences to the people of Chanchagi and Takum, highlighting the importance of maintaining peace and unity. He pledged to continue working diligently with partners to ensure the safety of everyone in the state.
Meanwhile, the Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA) of Taraba State has urged the state government and security agencies to thoroughly investigate the assassination and ensure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
President General of TCSA, Mr. James Baka, expressed the Tiv community’s commitment to peace and unity, condemning the acts of brutality and criminality.
“We call on the government and security agencies to diligently investigate this murder and bring the perpetrators to justice. As a people, we are deeply saddened and concerned by this event. We urge everyone to remain calm and allow the security agencies to carry out their responsibilities effectively.”
Baka emphasized that the Tiv community strongly condemns any form of criminality and supports efforts to maintain peace and harmony in the region.
“We unequivocally condemn any act of criminality and will never associate with criminal elements. We appeal to His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the Governor of Taraba State, to deploy security forces to calm the rising tensions in the area. The Tiv people of Takum have long coexisted peacefully with the Chamba and Jukun communities. Never before have we witnessed such a grievous incident. We are committed to maintaining this harmonious relationship and stand united against any acts of violence that threaten our collective peace.”
The tragic event took place along the Takum-Wukari road as the monarch and his son were returning from a funeral in a neighboring local government area. Takum has experienced heightened tensions recently following changes to the First Class Stool from Ukwe Takum to Chief of Takum, now rotational among the predominant tribes in the area. However, efforts by security forces and continued advocacy for peace have maintained relative calm in the region, which is also home to General TY Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence.
