Taraba Environmental Sanitation Agency debunks  alleged stabbing case  in Jalingo 

By Andrew Ojih,  Jalingo. 

The Taraba state Environmental Sanitation Agency on Tuesday debunked some media reports that the Chairman of the Agency,  Hon Iliya Kefas stabbed a resident of phase 2 in Jalingo, the state capital on his forehead

An eye witness and media  aide to the Agency,  Aliyu Jibrin while clarifying the true position of the incident to journalists in Jalingo said  its chairman, Mr. Iliya Kefas had not at any point stabbed a resident during a confrontation over the seizure of goats in Jalingo.

He described the alleged allegation as fake,   misleading and baseless and urged members of the public to ignore the fake media reports. 

“Confrontation arose from the enforcement of the state government’s directive against the indiscriminate movement of animals within residential areas and along public places. 

The agency had seized three goats from Abuja Phase I in Jalingo after they were found roaming freely and allegedly destroying flowers planted along the major road as well as crops and other plants.

The trouble started when some of the owners came to the agency to demand the release of the animals” he said.

He explained that while discussions were ongoing, one of the men allegedly threatened to slaughter the chairman, a statement which, he said, was captured on his phone.

“I was there when the incident happened. The issue was about the seizure of goats that were eating the flowers we planted along the major road and people’s plants in their farms.

“While they were demanding the release of the goats, one of them said that if the goats were not released, he would slaughter the chairman.

“I have the recording on my phone where the statement was made” he noted.

He said the agency had established procedures for releasing impounded animals, including documenting the location where they were seized, taking photographs of claimants, obtaining written undertakings and collecting their contact details before releasing the animals.

He noted the situation escalated when the chairman arrived and was informed that one of the men had threatened him.

He said the chairman subsequently directed the police to take the alleged threat-maker to the station, while asking the other people involved to remain behind for discussions.

According to him, some of the men resisted the move, insisting that the police should take all of them together.

He said a scuffle subsequently broke out between the men and security personnel, resulting in a head collision, which he insisted was wrongly portrayed as a stabbing incident.

“There was nothing like a knife. Nobody stabbed anybody. It was a collision between their heads during the pushing and resistance.

“I have the video showing what actually happened,” he said.

He  added that the agency immediately contacted security authorities following the confrontation and that both police and military personnel were deployed to prevent a possible escalation.

He said the agency had acted in accordance with a directive from the state government to apprehend animals found roaming freely in violation of environmental sanitation regulations.

He urged members of the public to disregard reports of stabbing, accusing some media platforms and social media users of publishing unverified information about the incident.

He particularly expressed disappointment with the manner in which the incident was reported, arguing that the allegations should have been verified with the agency and the police before being broadcast.

He said the agency remained committed to enforcing environmental sanitation regulations in the state, while urging residents to comply with government directives on the movement and rearing of animals.