Taraba
Taraba Governor’s Mother, Sister Escape kidnap attempt
Uhuru Samuel Jalingo
Jummai Kefas, the mother of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, and his younger sister, Atsi Kefas narrowly escapeed a kidnapping attempt on Thursday along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor’s mother and other members of the family were driving in a white Hummar Bus along with some security personnel when they ran into some armed men, suspected to be kidnappers at Sondi village along Wukari-Kente road.
It was gathered that on sighting the convoy of the Governor’s Mother, the gunmen opened fire on the vehicles in an attempt to stop the vehicles but the drivers forced their way and escaped.
Our Corrspondent reliably gathered that in an attempt by one of the security men in the Governor mother’s convoy to return fire to the gunmen, there was an accidental discharge and the bullet allegedly hit Atsi, the Governor’s younger sister who was seated next to her Mother.
It was reliably gathered that it was the bullet from one of the security men in the convoy that injured the Governor’s sister Atsi Kefas.
Sources disclosed that when the convoy stopped few kilometres away from the scene of the incident, it was discovered that Atsi, the Governor’s younger sister sustained gunshot wound while his mother Jummai and other members of the family were unhort.
Dauda Agbu, Chairman of Wukari LGA confirmed the incident, adding that no life was lost in the incident, but described the attack as “worrisome ”
He revealed that Atsi Kefas sustained a gunshot wound during the encounter saying that, “She was initially treated at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Wukari, where her condition was stabilized, before she was taken to Abuja for further medical attention.”
Mr Agbu urged residents to remain calm, noting that security agencies have intensified efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
A resident of Wukari, who simply identified herself as Washu, said no one knows exactly where the governor’s mother was going to but said the attack was a calculated one.
“No one was sure about where they were going to, but from what we are hearing the attack was a calculated one,” she said,
Our correspondent further gathered that the gunmen allegedly targeted Governor Kefas Mother for kidnap but were chased away by the security men accompanying the convoy.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Taraba State, Usman Abdullahi, also confirmed the incident but said he was yet to confirm whether the bullet that injured the Governor’s sister was from one of the security men in the convoy.
Abdullahi said information from the Wukari division indicated that there was an earlier armed robbery attack in the area before the attack on the Governor’s family.
He further confirmed that one of the occupants of the vehicles conveying the governor’s mother sustained gunshot injuries.
“Yes, we received a report of a robbery attack on Wukari-Kente road in the early hours of yesterday, but I can’t confirm whether the Governor’s mother and sister were among the victims.
“I want to assure you that investigation is ongoing and hopefully the perpetrators of the act will be brought to book. The people of Taraba should remain calm, as the police and other sister security agencies are on top of the situation in the state,” he said. ////
Eleojo Samuel, Jalingo
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Taraba State University, on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of her Services to the university and embark on an indefinite strike.
Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, the chairperson of the association who announced the Union’s decision in a press statement said, the action follows, both the state government the and university management’s failure to meet her long overdue demands.
The union noted in the statement that it has been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government by failing to address their challenges.
“This is to notify the general public that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)Taraba State University Branch has from today Wednesday, the 11thDecember, 2024, commenced a total comprehensive and indefinite strike action. We have withdrawn our services to the Taraba State University, with effective from Monday, 9th December, 2024.
“This action is imperative because we have been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government for failing to address our demands.
“We want both the Taraba state government and the university management to address the following demands before we can resume our services.
“The Outstanding salary /Allowances, Unpaid full salaries of September 2022, Unpaid full salaries of October 2022, the Withheld 28% of June, 2022 salary balance, the Withheld 51% of November, 2022 salary balance and the Withheld 44% of December, 2022 salary balance.
“The promotion arrears balance of 2016 to 2020 promotion arrears. The lack of pension scheme. The Contributory pension Scheme of the university since it inception in 2008 to date, is against the provision of Pension Act, and is a threat to the future and job security of our members.
“The dissolution of the Taraba State University Governing Council by the Visitor Dr. Agbu Kefas, on the 1st June, 2023 is affecting the performance of the University because the University is now operating without Council.
“It is heart touching to report to you that Taraba State University, Jalingo is still using the N18,000 National Minimum Wage Bill of 8th December, 2009. Across the four (4) salary structures, which was implemented in April 2010.
The N30,000 National Minimum Wage of 2019, the 25/35 per cent salary consequential adjustment of 2023 and the N70,000 New National Minimum Wage of 2024 as enacted by the National Minimum Wage (Amendment), Act
2024 have not being implemented in the University by the University
Management and the Taraba State Government.
“Our members in Taraba State University are yet to benefit the N35,000 wage award per month as approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Balance of Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA) for nonteaching staff from 2009 to 2013 has not been paid.
“We totally reject the retrogressive application of the Criteria and guideline for appointment, appraisal and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff of 2012
that was annulled, repealed and replaced for the Appraisal Exercise of 2023/2024.
“The guidelines for Appointments and Promotionsof Senior Non-Academic Staff as approved by Council in 2020 that was used for 2020/2021, and 2022/2023 Appraisal exercise has not been repealed by any Council. Pursuant to this, we are re-appealing to the University Management and the
State Government to use the 2020 policy document for our Appraisal exercise of 2023/2024 and set up a Committee to review it as appropriate”. The statement read.
Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
Another tragedy has struck the family of Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas following the sudden death of the driver who drove the Bus that conveyed the Governor’s Mother and Sister, late Atsi during the attack on their convoy along Wukari-Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area last week.
The driver, who’s name is simply given as Abraham was said to have slumped and died instantly on hearing news of the death of Mrs. Atsi Kefas, younger sister of Taraba State Governor who died in Abuja on Tuesday as a result of an accidental discharge from one of the police escorts on the convoy
Abraham was in company of other government house drivers at Taraba Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Tuesday when they received the news of the death of the Governor’s younger sister, Atsi Kefas.
Sources reveals that Abraham shouted in a very loud voice and suddenly slumped and died instantly.
It was gathered that the late Driver, Abraham an indigene of Wukari, Governor Kefas home town, was engaged as one of the drivers in the convoy of Governor Kefas’s wife after he became Governor in 2023.
According to family sources, the late Abraham is a relation of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Agyin Agbu Kefas .
The news of the death of Abraham who is said to have left behind two wives and many children has sent shock waves to the families of Governor Kefas and government house drivers in Jalingo.
As at press time, there was no official statement from the state government on the death of the driver.
Meanwhile, Prominent Nigerians have continued to troop T Y Danjuma’s Taraba Governor’s Lodge Asokoro Abuja to pay their condolences on Governor Kefas over the death of his Sister,Atsi Kefas. ///.
Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
Atsi Kefas, younger sister of Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, who sustained bullet wounds from accidental discharge from the gun of one of the security personnel on the convoy of Mrs. Jummai Kefas, mother of Taraba State Governor along Wukari-Kente road on December 5, has died.
A family sources disclosed to our correspondent in Jalingo on Tuesday that Atsi, 44 years, died in a private hospital in Abuja while receiving treatment for her injuries from the gunshot in the early hours of Tuesday.
National update last week reported that unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Thursday last week attacked a vehicle in which Jummai Kefas, the mother of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, was travelling along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state during when one of the security personnel in the vehicle who attempted to return fire to the gunmen accidentally shot Atsi who was seated next to the governor’s mother.
Investigation reveals that the suspected kidnappers had targeted Governor Kefas Mother for kidnap when they attacked the convoy on December 5.
Atsi was intially rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari where her condition was stabilized before she was flown to Abuja for further treatment.
The family sources further reveals that Doctors have been battling to save Atsi’s live in a private hospital in Abuja since Thursday last week before she finally died in the early hours of tuesday December 10.
As at press time there has not been any official statement from the state government concerning the death of the Governor’s younger Sister.
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