Taraba communities protest, accuse senator of land grabbing.
By Chuwang Dungs
Six communities in Gassol local government area of Taraba State, have accused Sanusi Daggash, a former senator from Borno State of forcefully grabbing their lands without their consent.
Daggash was twice a federal lawmaker who was very prominent in the Senate, representing Borno North between 1999 and 2007. Daggash was later appointed into the cabinet after he lost out in his bid to return to the upper chamber for the third time on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former President Musa Yar’Adua appointed him as minister of national planning and later deployed to the works and housing ministry.
As a senator, he served in various committees of the Senate like population commission and national identity card, FCT, capital market, loans and debt, among others.
The communities said Mr Daggash allegedly connived with the traditional institution in Gassol and grabbed over 5,000 hectares of land owned by their forefathers without any compensation or negotiation.
Allegation
Led by their spokesperson Hudu Kashimu, the residents on Monday staged a protest in Gassol and addressed the media, accusing Mr Daggash of claiming to have obtained a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of over 5000 hectares of land in their communities without their consent or that of their leaders.
The protesters from the affected communities: Kwatan Taru, Natride, Dinyawo, Wurbo, Kiyari and Sendride carrying placards with different inscriptions said as original owners of the land they would reject any form of land grabbing with the last drop of their blood.
Controversies
Highlighting the controversies surrounding the land tussle, Mr Kashimu, explained that the land which the senator is laying claims belongs to the peasant farmers of the aforementioned villages whose forefathers have been farming for over 100 years. However when the former minister of Agriculture and Water Resources late Bukar Shuaibu, visited the Upper Benue River Basin site in Gassol in 1984, which was founded while he was the Permanent Secretary in the ministry in 1976, he solicited for a portion of land from the late Emir of Muri, Umaru Tukur, for his own personal use and Tukur granted his request.
“Tukur graciously directed the then district head of Gassol to allocate a parcel of land to Shuaibu, acting on the directive of the Emir, the then district head of Gassol, further directed the village head of Sendride to allocate a parcel of land near the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority to Shuaibu which covered only 200 hectares.
“We were also told that after Shuaibu’s death, his family sold the land to one Sanusi Daggash, and all this were done without the consent of the original owners of the land
“We were equally told that the said land became a subject of controversy and litigation between the Taraba State government, some elders of Gassol community and Daggash over ownership and the number of hectares of the said land, until in 2023 when former governor Darius Ishaku, ordered for the revocation of the controversial land.
“After the revocation of the land, Daggash and his wife met with Ishaku and pleaded for a portion of the land be given to him for his personal farming business
“We were also informed that during the meeting Ishaku directed the state surveyor general to allocate only 200 hectares of land to the Senator, surprisingly to us, after Ishaku left office, Daggash went to court to challenge the initial revocation by Ishaku, claiming over 5,000 hectares of our land
“We the original owners of the land from the aforementioned villages and communities hereby, reject in total the seizure of our land by Daggash or his agents
“We also vow to resist any attempt by anyone to take over our land because we and our children yet unborn have no place to farm if the land is taken from us.
“We are therefore calling on the state governor Agbu Kefas, to stop Daggash or his agents from encroaching into our land.” Mr Kashimu submitted.
Also speaking Idris Adamu, a community leader directly accused the Lamido Gassol, Idi Chiroma, alleging that he is using his position to take over lands in his chiefdom for his selfish gains.
Mr Adamu, called on governor Kefas to call the Chiroma to order and also investigate his nefarious activities which is causing serious tension in the chiefdom.
Chiroma reacts
Reacting, the Secretary of the Gassol traditional council, Inusa Gassol, who spoke on behalf of Chiroma, called on the aggrieved communities to remain calm and deceased from any act that will create tension in the Chiefdom.
Addressing reporters on Thursday evening in Jalingo, Mr Gassol said the leadership of the community was surprised to hear the news of the allegation against an “innocent chief” who was not part of the said land allocation.
“The state government and the Gassol traditional council are fully in the picture of the land matter involving Sanusi Daggash and some indigenes of Gassol which is currently before the court of law.
“As a traditional father, I appeal to the protesters to remain calm and be law abiding, as there are rooms for dialogue that could lead to the amicable resolution of the land matter
“As a father of all, I have not taken side in the matter but will rather be fair to all parties in the interest of peace.” He said.
All efforts to reach Mr Daggash proved abortive, however one of his friends who begged for anonymity said, “the senator has resolved not to speak on the matter since the issue is before the court.”
