From Newspointer
Lau Taraba – August 1st 2025 | Newspointer News
A fresh crisis is brewing in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State as residents, under the banner of the Winlau Youth Development Association (WYDA), have accused the council chairman, Mr. Nigeria Ezra Jatau, of reallocating ancestral lands to federal agencies without the consent of the host community.
At a press briefing held in Jalingo, leaders of the youth group condemned what they described as “a secretive and illegal redistribution” of community land historically handed to Christian missionaries in the 1950s.
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The land, they said, was originally meant for educational and religious purposes but is now being quietly parcelled out to unnamed federal institutions—allegedly without any form of consultation with the traditional landowners.
General Secretary of the association, Yerima Bala Clement, said the move was a betrayal of public trust and warned that it could destabilise the fragile peace in the area.
“We’ve made several efforts to speak with the chairman, but he’s refused to engage with us. He claims the governor authorised this, but we don’t believe Governor Kefas would approve such action behind our backs,” Clement stated.
The group’s vice president, John Kennedy (aka Kuh Bakula), said the community is not opposed to development but will resist any action that disrespects their rights and heritage.
“This land is not just ordinary ground—it’s our identity, our inheritance. Our forefathers cultivated and defended it for decades. No one has the right to give it away without our input,” Bakula said.
Adding his voice, respected community figure Inyo Boniface accused the chairman of hiding behind the name of Governor Agbu Kefas to execute what he called “an illegitimate act.”
“He’s using the governor’s name to cover up a land grab. We will not accept this. The government must act now before this sparks unrest,” Boniface warned.
The group is calling on the Taraba State Government to immediately investigate the matter, reverse any unlawful allocations, and ensure that future decisions on land are made with transparency and community involvement.
However, reacting to the allegations, Chairman Ezra Jatau denied any wrongdoing. In a phone conversation with NEWSPOINTER, he described the accusations as “baseless and politically motivated.”
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“The land in question belongs to the government. We followed all the necessary procedures in its allocation,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official word from the office of Governor Agbu Kefas.
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