Taraba

Taraba is a state in North Eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba state’s capital is Jalingo. The main ethnic groups are the Tiv, Mumuye, Mambilla, Wurkuns, Jukun, Kuteb, Yandang, Ndola, Itchen, Tigun, Jibu and Fulanis. The northern parts is mainly dominated by Fulani of Muri emirate. The southern parts are dominated by the Jukun, Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb and Ichen. The central region is mainly occupied by the Fulani, Mambilla and the Jibu peoples. There are over 77 different tribes, and their languages in Taraba State.

Taraba state was created out of the former Gongola state on 27 August 1991, by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Taraba state is bounded in the west by Nasarawa state and Benue state, northwest by Plateau state, north by Bauchi state and Gombe state, northeast by Adamawa state, and south by Northwest Region in Cameroon.

The Benue, Donga, Taraba and Ibi are the main rivers in the state. They rise from the Cameroonian mountains, straining almost the entire length of the state in the North and South directions to link up with the River Niger.

The climate of Taraba state is marked by an annual average temperature of 33°C but high level of cold in January and an increased rainfall in August.[4] The percentage of rainfall in Taraba state is 40.35% with 54.98% relative humidity. The state is usually very warm in March with 40.44°C, and an average wind of 8.84km/h.

Taraba state consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (or LGAs), which are governed by elected Chairmen.

The major occupation of the people of Taraba state is agriculture. Cash crops produced in the state include coffee, tea, groundnuts and cotton. [Citation needed] Crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and yam are also produced in commercial quantity.

In addition, cattle, sheep and goats are reared in large numbers, especially on the Mambilla Plateau, and along the Benue and Taraba valleys. [Citation needed] Similarly, the people of Taraba state undertake other livestock production activities like poultry production, rabbit breeding and pig farming in fairly large scale. Communities living on the banks of River Benue, River Taraba, River Donga and Ibi, engage in fishing all year round. Other occupational activities such as pottery, cloth-weaving, dyeing,

Mat-making, carving, embroidery and blacksmithing are also carried out in various parts of the state.

Taraba state has abundant natural resources for industrial and commercial use,

The government has made concerted efforts to improve areas of tourist attractions like Mambilla Tourist Center, Gumpti Park and game reserve in Gashaka;, Karimjo Abedahh festival and the Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi, all this is usually held in April of each year where activities such as canoe racing, swimming competition and cultural dances are held. Other festivals are Purma of the Chamba in Donga, Takum and Jibu culture dance in Bali, the Tagba of Acha People in Takum, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in Takum and Ussa, Kati of the Mambilla and host of others. Taraba is called “Nature’s gift to the nation” as the state is rich and has many ethnic groups, including Kuteb, Chamba, Yandang, Mumuyes, Mambila, Karimjo, Wurkums, Jenjo, Jukun, Ichen, Tiv, Kaka, Pena, Kambu, kodei, Wawa, Vute, Fulani, Hausa and Ndola

A striking historical fact about the State is that it encompasses part of the Mambilla Region which is famed as the Bantu cradle, having been occupied for some five millennia to date (Schwartz, 1972; Zeitlyn & Connell, 2003).

The capital city of the state is Jalingo.