Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd.) has described the Nwonyo Fishing Festival in Taraba State as a symbol of national unity and peace. He made the statement during the 2026 edition of the Nwonyo International Fishing Festival held in Ibi Local Government Area on Saturday. The event took place in Jalingo, where Danjuma was present as a guest of honour. The festival, hosted annually, draws participants and spectators from various ethnic groups across Nigeria. Danjuma praised the gathering as an example of peaceful coexistence among diverse communities. The celebration includes traditional fishing rites, cultural displays, and boat regattas on the Taraba River. Organisers say the festival promotes tourism and local economic activity in Ibi. The 2026 edition marked one of the largest turnouts in recent years. No official attendance figures were released. The event has been held for over four decades, with interruptions due to security challenges in previous years. Danjuma, a native of Taraba State, has attended several editions of the festival since his retirement from public service.
Gen. Danjuma celebrates the festival as a symbol of peace while the state it is held in has seen recurring communal violence that disrupts such gatherings. The 2026 turnout was notable, yet the absence of verified attendance numbers makes the claim of success difficult to assess. Nigerians in Ibi and surrounding communities rely on the festival for income, making its continuity vital regardless of symbolic messaging. Peace being celebrated in one breath has been absent in the same region in the years between festivals.
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