By Julius Matudi, Jalingo
Mararaban Gassol community in Taraba State was thrown into turmoil Wednesday evening following reports that the Gassol Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Saidu, allegedly sold the town’s motor park to a private investor.
Witnesses said panic erupted as traders and shop owners in the park vowed to resist eviction, accusing the chairman of betraying their trust and threatening their livelihoods. Many residents were seen fleeing in confusion as the dispute escalated.
According to local sources, Saidu purportedly transferred ownership of the motor park to Alhaji Muntari Abubakar, Chairman of the Mararaba Gassol chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for personal development. Tensions spiked after the council, through Deputy Director of Town Planning, Nasiru Nagodi, issued a quit notice dated September 8, 2025, giving traders one week to vacate.
Traders expressed outrage over the move. Alhaji Mustapha Ahmadu, who has operated at the park for more than a decade, questioned why a public facility supported by their revenue payments would be sold to a single individual overnight.
“This is where we feed our families,” said another shop owner, Alhaji Shuaibu Bello. “Selling the motor park is unfair and deprives us of our only source of livelihood.”
Mallam Isa Manu Petel condemned the action and appealed to Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas to intervene. “The governor recently warned chairmen against selling public lands,” he said. “If the chairman disobeys, this could trigger a crisis. We are ready to challenge the sale in court if necessary.”
Many park occupants warned they would resist any further attempts to hand over the land, saying the decision would destabilize the community’s economy.
When contacted, Chairman Saidu confirmed that while the land belongs to the local government, it was only ever allocated temporarily for use as a motor park. He denied an outright sale, clarifying that approval was granted to Muntari Abubakar under a memorandum of understanding to develop shops in partnership with the council.
“This is not a sale,” Saidu said. “Muntari Abubakar officially expressed interest to invest in the park by developing shops. Such public-private investments happen worldwide. Gassol should not be an exception.”
However, Muntari Abubakar insisted he had acquired the land and begun relocating existing businesses to other sites, promising to develop a mini shopping plaza and additional shops as part of his investment.
As the standoff continues, residents are calling on Governor Kefas and security agencies to intervene before the dispute boils over into unrest.