By Terna Chikpa
There is brewing tension in Lau LGA of Taraba state over the alleged illegal allocation of a Community land to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, by the council chairman, Hon. Nigeria Ezra Jatau.
The Winlau, a pressure group in the local government told journalist on Friday that the council chairman Hon Nigeria Ezra Jatau, was illegally and unilaterally allocating the community land to some federal agencies without the community’s consent.
The group also in a formal letter to governor Agbu Kefas, Bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs, the Commissioner of Police and the Director DSS Taraba state, appealed to governor Kefas to intervene and call the chairman to order.
Mr Yerima Bala Clement, the group General Secretary while speaking in Jalingo, alleged that the council chairman had claimed that his actions was base on the directive of governor Agbu Kefas since all land belongs to government.
“As representatives of our community, under the umbrella of (Winlau), we made several efforts to engage in a dialogue with the council chairman regarding the unlawful allocation of the community land but all failed. The chairman had told us that all land belongs to the government, and he is acting base on the directives of governor Kefas
“The land in question is a vital asset for our community. The unauthorized allocation of the land to the federal agencies is already creating a significant rift between the community and the agencies. We call on the state government intervention and save the community from the unlawful act of the council chairman for peace in the area.
“We wish to state here that due process be follow if any action should be taken on the community land. The action of the chairman did not just threatens the peaceful coexistence in the local government but also posed the risk of escalating tensions between the community and the recipients of the land. The arbitrary distribution of land without the engagement of stakeholders concerned is likely to lead to unrest and could jeopardize the long-term goals of peace and development in the local government,” the WinLau submitted.
Meanwhile, Hon Nigeria Ezra Jatau, the Lau LG council chairman denied all claims by the group. He said, his decision was to ensure a guarantee security of the area and attract development.
The council chairman explained that following allegations by the WinLau, finding and verification were conducted on the land to ascertain the original owner.
“We made findings with relevant stakeholders including, mr. Ayuba B. Samson, the LGA’s Land Officer, Engr. Abdulwahab Mohammed Inuwa – Deputy Director of Works of the Local Government Alhaji Tanko Nasiru, Elder statesman and the community historian, as well as the representative of the Sarkin Lau, Alhaji Shuaibu Nuhu. These stakeholders provided historical and administrative context on the land, affirming that Government is the official Owner of the Land.
“That the land in contention is part of a parcel that was originally allocated to Lau Central Primary School and subsequently acquired by the Lau Local Government for public use. That the allocation of part of the land
“The decision to allocate part of the land to NSCDC is in response to the collective appeals by members of the Lau community to strengthen local security. It was never a unilateral decision,” the council chairman narrated.
