The rights of Taraba FC players
was yesterday trampled upon,
as soldier numbering over eleven
brutalized the players for besieging
the government in protest over non
payment of their eleven months
salaries.
The players claimed they were yet
to be paid their remunerations and
match bonus by the state
government. They stormed the
Government House at about 7a.m
on a peaceful protest, preventing
both staffs and political appointees
from gaining access into the
premises. But they met a brick
wall, as the soldiers drafted into
the arena by the state government
gave the footballers serious
beating.
Government activities in the
government house as at the time of
this report was on a standstill, as
top government functionaries are
running up and down seeking for
way of persuading the players.
Among top government
functionaries who could not gain
access to the government house
yesterday includes the Special
Adviser to the Governor on
Security, Col. Wunike Agyo, Special
Adviser on Rural Development,
Mammud Abubakar, the Chief
Protocol Officer, Kabiru Marafa,
Chief Press Secretary, Hassan
Mijiyawa and the Chief Press
Secretary to the Deputy Governor,
Lawal Sani Kona.
Speaking with newsmen, the team
captain, Kelvin Njoku, expressed
dismay at the “deliberate” refusal
of the state government to “pay us
our salaries for the past eleven
months.”
Apart from the salaries, which he
said the state government has
“refused to pay in spite of the
bailout given to them by the
federal government,” the
government, Njoku said “has also
refused to pay us our match
bonuses.”
It was learnt that the military, who
have been keeping vigil in the state
capital, were ushered into the
government house armed with
horsewhip, and the riffles and
manhandled the players who
vowed to remain in the
government house pending when
their demands are meant.
Earlier, the Chief of staff to the
government, Rebo Usman said the
government was aware of their
plights, adding that machineries
have been put in place to pay
them.

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