Jalingo, town, capital of Taraba state, eastern Nigeria. It became a state capital in 1991 after Gongola state was divided into Adamawa and Taraba states. 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 town, has a government dairy farm, and is connected by road with Yola and Wukari. Pop. (2016 est.) local government area,187,500.