The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Iliya Kefas Alhaji, has strongly denied allegations that he stabbed a Jalingo resident with a knife during an altercation at the agency’s office in Jalingo, the state capital.
The allegation, which has generated public attention in Jalingo, reportedly arose from an incident connected with the enforcement of the Taraba State Government’s policy against free-roaming domestic animals and other environmental and sanitation measures being implemented across the state.

The purported victim had reportedly appeared on a private radio station in Jalingo, where he narrated his account of the incident and alleged that the agency chairman stabbed him with a knife during the confrontation.
However, in his reaction to the allegation on Tuesday, Kefas dismissed the claim as false, insisting that it did not accurately reflect what transpired at the agency’s office.

Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, the chairman said the incident occurred when a group of individuals visited the agency’s premises, adding that several people were present at the time and witnessed the events.
Rather than engaging in a public exchange over the allegations, Kefas called for a proper investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to him, the accounts of eyewitnesses who were present at the scene should be obtained and considered alongside any other available evidence before conclusions are reached.
“Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I believe it is important that the matter be investigated objectively and that all parties involved, including eyewitnesses, be given the opportunity to provide their accounts,” he said.
The chairman stressed that allegations of such a serious nature should not be determined solely on the basis of claims made by any one party.

He therefore urged the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and objective investigation capable of establishing what actually happened during the encounter.
Kefas said reliance on unverified claims could create a misleading impression of the incident and potentially undermine the credibility of efforts to establish the truth.

He maintained that the presence of eyewitnesses provided an opportunity for investigators to obtain independent accounts of the events and determine the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of ongoing environmental and sanitation enforcement activities in Taraba State, including measures aimed at addressing the movement of free-roaming cattle in urban areas.
The enforcement exercise has brought government officials and members of the public into contact in circumstances that can sometimes generate disagreements, particularly where enforcement actions affect individuals’ livelihoods or property.
Kefas, however, maintained that his responsibility as chairman of the agency was to discharge his official duties peacefully and in accordance with the law.

He rejected any suggestion that the allegation represented his conduct or the manner in which the agency carries out its responsibilities.

The chairman also appealed to the relevant authorities and members of the public to allow due process to take its course, stressing the need for available evidence and eyewitness accounts to be carefully examined.
He said an objective investigation would give all parties involved an opportunity to present their respective accounts and would help prevent the matter from being determined through conflicting public narratives.

While the allegation remains a matter of contention, Kefas’s response places emphasis on the need for independent verification of the competing accounts rather than relying exclusively on claims made by either side.
He reiterated his commitment to continuing his official responsibilities and ensuring that the agency’s activities are carried out within the framework of the law.

As the controversy continues to attract public interest, the outcome of any formal investigation, including statements from eyewitnesses and other available evidence, could be crucial in establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
For now, the chairman has categorically denied the stabbing allegation and is calling for the matter to be subjected to a transparent investigation that allows all parties and witnesses to be heard.