Wukari council disowns ‘Fulani bandit’ report attributed to Aku-Uka

The Wukari Traditional Council has disowned a social media report claiming that the Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr Ishaku Adda Ali, declared that Fulani bandits had overrun the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom.

The palace described the report as false, mischievous and capable of creating communal disharmony among different ethnic groups.

The clarification was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday by the Wukari Traditional Council through the Nene of the Jukun people, Barrister Danjuma A. Adamu.

The council said the report, titled, “We Are Under Siege: Taraba Monarch Breaks Silence as Fulani Bandits Overrun the Ancient Kwararafa Kingdom,” was attributed to a speech delivered by the Aku Uka at the 2026 Assembly of the ethnic nationalities of the old Kwararafa Confederacy, organised by the Kwararafa Development Forum in Abuja on September 19, 2026.

“The social media publication falsely attributed statements to the monarch which were not contained in his speech, particularly the allegation that a specific ethnic group was responsible for insecurity in the region”, the council said.

The council quoted the Aku Uka as saying in his speech that communities of the old Kwararafa Confederacy had contributed to Nigeria’s development in agriculture, the armed forces, natural resources and culture, but continued to face challenges including inadequate infrastructure, limited economic opportunities, marginalisation and discrimination.

The monarch, according to the statement, called for “fairness, equity, justice, security and inclusion” in all spheres of national life.

The council maintained that the speech did not identify any ethnic group as perpetrators of insecurity or violence, describing the contrary attribution as an attempt to put words in the monarch’s mouth.

It said the Aku Uka was committed to peace and would not support statements capable of escalating tensions among communities or ethnic groups.

The council further clarified that the monarch’s address was not restricted to Taraba State, but concerned the old Kwararafa Confederacy and the broader security challenges affecting communities in different parts of Nigeria.

It also said the Aku Uka acknowledged efforts by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address insecurity across the country and pledged his support for initiatives aimed at ending the security challenges.

The council rejected any attempt to link the monarch’s speech to the 2027 general elections or partisan politics.

It said the Aku Uka, as a traditional ruler, does not dabble in partisan politics and that neither the 2027 election nor politics was mentioned in the speech.

“The monarch’s concern remained the promotion of fairness, justice, equity and development for the descendants of the old Kwararafa Confederacy and Nigerians generally,” the council stated.

The council urged the public to disregard the social media report, which it said misrepresented the position of the Aku Uka and could create unnecessary tension among communities.