Police aides of Taraba Speaker in hospital after assassination attempt at convoy

Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr. Haruna Tsokwa, escaped death by the whiskers on Wednesday when his convoy was attacked by suspected gunmen along Jos – Abuja road.


The incident was said to have occurred at about 4.50p.m at Bade forest near Keffi.

Though the speaker was escaped unhurt, some policemen in his convoy sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds during an exchange of gun shots between them and their attackers.

The pilot car was also said to have been riddled with bullets.

Chief Press Secretary to the speaker, Mr. Tanko Kaura, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Thursday, said “the speaker was in good condition.”

Kaura, who was inside the car as at the time of the incident, said that his principal escaped unhurt.

He said, “The speaker was on his way to Abuja after participating in a three-day retreat in Obudu, Cross Rivers State when the convoy ran into the waiting hands of the attackers.”

He added that the convoy was taken unawares and as such could not ascertain whether the attackers were armed bandits or assassins.

Governor Danbaba Suntai, has however expressed sadness over the incident and called on Taraba people to pray for the state security.

Suntai, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Hassan Mijinyawa, urged the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the attack as the state needed peace, security and the spirit of greater political accommodation.”

Wondering why some persons would want to cut short the lives of fellow human being, the governor called on “all Taraba citizens to continue to pray for the continued peace and progress of the state.”