Our communities under siege by bandits – Taraba monarch

The Aku-Uka of Wukari in Taraba State, Dr Ishaku Adda Ali, has raised concerns over the worsening security situation affecting communities linked to the old Kwararafa Kingdom.

Speaking at the 2026 Kwararafa People’s Assembly in Abuja at the weekend, the monarch said the former Kwararafa Confederacy had recently come under attack by bandits.

He said several communities across Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Niger states had been affected by banditry, farmer-herder clashes, kidnapping and repeated displacement.

According to him, the violence has forced many people from their homes and turned thousands into refugees in their own country.

He added that farmers could no longer access their farms, while traders were also struggling to go to markets because of the insecurity.

“There are the children who can no longer go to school. There are elders whose ancestral homes have been reduced to ashes. We do not come here to accuse, but to say, we need help.

“And we come here to say that the help must be real, it must be sustained, and it must reach the communities that are suffering, not stop at the level of communiques and conferences,” he said.

Dr Ali also expressed regret that the people who once formed the Kwararafa Confederacy had become divided along political, religious and ethnic lines.

“If the Jukun, and the Idoma, Igala, Ebira, Alago, Nupe, Tarok, Angas, Eggon, Mighill, Ohafia, Bekwara, Yala, Gamai, Kare-Kare among others could build a common political house in the 15th century, what excuse do we have in the 21st century,” he asked.

The monarch, who was the chief convener of the meeting, said the gathering was aimed at bringing together people connected to the Kwararafa heritage.

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, who also attended the event as a core-convener, said he was proud to identify himself as a son of Kwararafa.

Kefas explained that his role in the gathering was not an official responsibility of the Taraba State Government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, my role as a core-convener is not an official responsibility of the Taraba State government. This assembly is not Taraba state government programme and it is not intended to advance any personal, political, or sectional agenda,” he said.

He said the gathering was an opportunity for people sharing the Kwararafa heritage to renew their common vision and discuss ways of contributing to Nigeria’s development.

The Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Kingdom, HRH Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, said the Ebira people of Nasarawa State were also descendants of the Kwararafa Empire.

He called on members of the different ethnic groups connected to Kwararafa to continue identifying with their shared heritage wherever they live.

The traditional ruler thanked the Aku-Uka for organising the meeting and expressed hope that its deliberations would lead to a communiqué and further engagements.