Don’t links me to land grabbing, others- Taraba Monarch warns

“The secretary of the Gassol chiefdom, Mallam  Yunusa Gassol who reacted on behalf of Chief of Gassol, said the protesters were out to malign and damage the reputation of their traditional ruler and his office…….

By Faruk Bamalli, Jalingo

The Gassol chiefdom in Gassol local government area of Taraba State has denied allegations of land grabbing and harassment levelled against Alhaji idi Ciroma the chief of Gassol by a section of community in Kwararafa chiefdom.

The denial was in reaction to protest help by  people of Kwararafa chiefdom  against Alhaji idi Ciroma for allegedly forcing them  to pay him royalties on farmlands and ponds, which were not in his domain .

The secretary of the Gassol chiefdom, Mallam  Yunusa Gassol who reacted on behalf of Chief of Gassol, said the protesters were out to malign and damage the reputation of their traditional ruler and his office.

Mallam Yunusa,  stated that the villages in Kwararafa chiefdom were defined in the law establishing the chiefdom.

He explained that law that created Kwararafa Chiefdom clearly shows that two districts were carved out of Gassol Chiefdom and the districts are  Yaku Shamaki and Kwararafa districts, as well as other villages, while Tella, Sabongida, Takai, Dissol, Nanguru are in Gassol chiefdom.

” There it should be noted that His Royal Highness cannot descend too low to demand royalties from areas outside his domain. The allegations are mere lies aimed at denting the good image of His Royal Highness.

“And it should noted that  his Royal Highness has not instituted any case against anyone from Kwararafa as it was alleged by the mischief makers who are bent on dragging the person of the Chief of Gassol to public disrepute.” Yunusa stated 

He further stated that the  Chief of Gassol was never a party in all the cases claimed by people of Kwararafa chiefdom.

He said it was the  stakeholders of Gassol chiefdom that actually went to court to challenge some of the villages carved out of Gassol Chiefdom, adding that  the cases were  all decided in favour of the Gassol stakeholders.