By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
JALINGO – The Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN) an Ethnic group in Taraba State on Sunday alleged that it has uncovered plot by general T.Y Danjuma to demolish the Takum Centra mosque and the Century old Ukwe Takum palace in Takum town that houses the remains of of successive Ukwe Takums and serves as the museum of Kuteb culture.
Barr. Markus Apwende, the KYN Jalingo branch chairman who disclosed this in a press conference in Jalingo, on behalf of the national president, Emmanuel Ukwen, however appealed to governor Agbu Kefas and other spirited individual to wade into the situation to avoid either, religious or ethnic disunity in the local government.
According to the Kuteb group, it got the wind of the plot but ignored it until Thursday, 10th and Friday, 11th October 2024, when they saw the site engineer handling the ongoing construction T.Y Danjuma University Takum, who is the head of (ACC) construction, in company of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Takum and some Chamba militia in Vigilante uniform, marking and pegging the Takum Central Mosque and the Ukwe Takum Palace.
The group allege that the move is to ensure total elimination of the history of the Kuteb people in the local government.
“We want the Government and Security Agencies to note that plans are on by enemies of peace to demolish the Takum Central Mosque and Ukwe Takum Palace in Takum town.
“We got the wind of the wicked plan but initially ignored it until Thursday, 10th and Friday, 11th October, 2024, when we saw the Site Engineer for the ongoing construction T.Y Danjuma University Takum (a white man) who is also the Head of (ACC) Construction, in company of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Takum, and some Chamba militia in VGN uniform, marking and pegging the Central Mosque and the Ukwe Takum Palace.
“We wish to inform the whole world that the plot to demolish the Takum Central Mosque is a clear move by enemies of peace to wipe out the historical Islamic Worship in Takum local government.
“We wish to call on the whole world to note that the Ukwe Takum Palace houses the graves of the many past Ukwe Takum who ruled Takum for over a century. It also houses other traditional artifacts that are historical to Kuteb Tradition and Custom, and other items which must not be tampered with.
“The move to demolish the Palace and the Mosque is the highest level of provocation against the Kuteb Traditional Institutions, right to freedom of worship and other peace loving people of Takum and its environs.
“The Takum Central Mosque was constructed in 1912, by Ukwe Ahmadu Gankwe and subsequently renovated by Ukwe Ali Ibrahim Zorto Kufang (II ), who were Muslim. We consider the Mosque as part of history of our past Ukwe Takum who embraced Islam into Takum.
“Demolishing the Mosque, it’s a clear indication that the enemies want to wipe out this historical Islamic Worship Centre in Ukwe Takum Palace and also distort the rulership history of Takum.
“Takum has witnessed a lot of crises and tension is already high in the area and we will not like a situation in which there will be breakdown of law and order or chaos. An appeal against the decision of the High Court of Taraba State on the Takum Chieftaincy dispute and the preservation of the Palace is pending before the Court of Appeal, Yola. As law abiding citizens, we are bound by the Rule of Law.
“We wish to call on the Taraba State Government and Security Agencies to intervene and ensure that nothing happen to the Takum Central Mosque and Ukwe Takum Palace, as this will be tantamount to insult and bastardization of Kuteb cherished customs and tradition especially that the Palace houses the graves of our past traditional Rulers.
“We also appeal to all peace loving and spirited individuals to intervene to stop this devilish plan, just as we also appeal to all Kuteb Youth to remain calm and law abiding, and wait the response of the authorities on the matter”. The ethics group appealed.
