TARABA STATE

Taraba State is a Nigerian state, located in the northeast region of the country with 16 local government areas, the state was initially created with 10 local government areas in 1991 which was later extended to 16 local government areas and now the state has two new Special Development areas. Taraba state was carved out of the former Gongola State in August 27th, 1991. The capital of Taraba State is Jalingo (The word “Jalingo” meaning “Superior Place” in Fulfulde); the city is mainly dominated by Fulani and other small ethnic groups. It is the traditional city of Muri Emirate, the town was founded during the Fulani Jihad under the Sokoto Caliphate. Muri Emirate Council is the current traditional institution inside the city boundaries of Jalingo, and under the authority of the Government of Taraba State. What is now Taraba State has been inhabited for years by various ethnic groups, including the Fulani, Jukun, Chamba, Kuteb and Ichen in the southern part of the state; Wurkum, Mumuye and Kona in the northern part; the Mambilla, Fulani, Chamba and Jibawa in the central region; There are over 80 different tribes and their languages in Taraba State. Of the 36 states, Taraba is the 3rd largest in area and thirty-three most populous with an estimated population of over 2,294,800 as of 2006 cansus. Taraba state is named after Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state, and nicknamed as “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”. The major ethnic groups living in Taraba State are the Fulani, Kuteb Chamba, Yandang, Mumuyes, Mambila, Wurkums, Janjo, Jukun, Ichen, Tiv, Pena, Kambu, Kodei, Vute, Hausa and Ndola. The major occupation of the people of Taraba State is agriculture. Cash crops produced in the state include coffee, tea, groundnuts and cotton. 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. Similarly, the people 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.