Many kidnaped, One Killed in Taraba State.

Many kidnaped, One Killed in Taraba State.

Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo

 

One person has been killed and seven others  Kidnapped  along  Jamptari-Gayam Express road in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Usman, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a telephone conversation on Thursday.

He said that the armed robbers first laid siege and robbed travellers at about 10:30 am on Thursday before returning at 1:30 pm to rob and kidnap their victims.

According to him, the slain victim is said to be a native of the area who knows the armed robbers and tried to run away before he was gunned down.

Usman however disclosed that a search operation has commenced in collaboration with local hunters and other security agencies to release the victims unhurt by combing the nearby forests.

According to him, an investigation into the attacks has been launched with a view to bringing the perpetrators and their accomplices to book.

The Jamptari-Gayam Express Road has been a hot spot for kidnapping with Hassan Mijinyawa, the former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Darius Ishaku also a victim three years ago.

This is the first time an attack of such nature is taking place in the year 2022 in Taraba State.

Similarly, the Family of Former Taraba SSG, Gibon Timothy Kataps were kidnapped in the same Village in the same week.

The incident was said to happened on Wednesday in the afternoon along Jamtari, Gayam in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba state.

Kataps family was said to live Gumbo the headquarters of Sardauna LGA, for Jalingo after the Christmas and new year break, were they rune into the kidnappers.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdullahi who did not disclosed the number of victims said the children were kidnapped when the gunmen block the road around one o’clock in the afternoon.

The PPRO disclosed that the Jamtari Police Officer was also kidnapped and a villager of Jamtari was also killed during the raid.

The PPRO further narrated that the police officer who was escorting the family of Kataps was also injured.

He said police are on top of the situation to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued and the gunmen are apprehended.

When contacted by our correspondent, the Chairman, Gashaka Local Government, Paul Dogoh confirm the situation saying he was aware of the kidnapped of the Jamtari police officer, adding that he will hold a security meeting to discuss on security situation in the area.