By Divine Sam
Residents of Kwararafa Chiefdom in Taraba State have called for intervention from Governor Agbu Kefas to address alleged harassment by the Chief of Gassol, Idris Chiroma. During a protest, they accused Chiroma of using security forces and the judiciary to intimidate them, particularly following his brother’s election to the House of Representatives in 2023.
The community claims that Chiroma has challenged the legitimacy of the Kwararafa Chiefdom, established in 2018, and has filed multiple lawsuits against it, all ruled in Kwararafa’s favor. Protesters expressed that, unlike other newly created chiefdoms, they face ongoing hostility, describing the situation as a “declaration of war” from the Gassol Chief.
Additionally, they accused Chiroma of launching numerous legal actions against local farmers and colluding with officials to alter boundaries that legally define Kwararafa. They urged the governor to prevent further encroachment on their territory.
In response, a representative from the Gassol Chiefdom dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” claiming the protesters do not represent the community they claim.