Gunmen kidnap Taraba lawmaker

A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, representing Takum I Constituency, has been kidnapped by gunmen in Takum Local Government Area.

The Guardian learnt that the incident occurred at Saturday night. Security has been beefed up in the area and top government officials are working hard to ensue that the lawmaker is rescued unhurt.

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan-Abu, appealed to the kidnappers to release Ibi. He said the state government, in collaboration with the police and other security agencies, would do everything legitimate to rescue him.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Peter Abel Diah, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dahiru Baba Jen, said the lawmakers and security operatives would ensure that Ibi regain his freedom.

He pleaded with the kidnappers to temper justice with mercy by releasing the lawmaker unhurt. “This is what we did not envisage would ever happen to us here in Taraba State.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misel, said: “We are already aware that a member of the House of Assembly, by name Hosea Ibi, has been kidnapped.”

At the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had not called either the family or any government official to demand for ransom.