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. ////