The history of Taraba State as an administrative unit can be traced to
the Federal Government’s state creation exercise of 1991 which saw
the split of old Gongola State into Adamawa and Taraba States. The
1991 exercise by the Federal Military Government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida saw Taraba as one of the thirty-six states in Nigeria.
The capital of Taraba State was located in Jalingo.
The origins of Jalingo city can be traced back to the period of the Islamic Jihad when it was made a war camp by the Jihadists. The word ‘Jalingo’ in the Fulfulde language means the ‘Conquered Town’.
The city of Jalingo came into prominence in 1892 when the seventh
Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Nya made the settlement his Emirate headquarters. He had earlier been invited to the area by the Zavon Clan of the Mumuye to help them in their war against the Kona. The Kona and Mumuye had scores to settle. The Jihadists accepted the invitation from the Mumuye and after several deadly battles, the Kona was beaten.
Since its establishment as the headquarters of the Muri Emirate,
Jalingo has witnessed growth and development in all sectors. Alhaji
Abbas NjiddaTafida is the 12th Emir of Muri.
Jalingo lies in the savanna-covered foothills of the Shebshi Mountains about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Benue River. It is a market and road junction town, linking Yola; Numan, Wukari, and Bali.
