Justin Tyopuusu , Jalingo
The Chief Press Secretary to Taraba State Governor, Hassan Mijinyawa, has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen along Bali – Gashaka – Gembu highway in the early hours of Wednesday .
Also said to have been abducted alongside the CPS is an expatriate whose country of origin is yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report .
Wife of the kidnapped CPS, Hajjiya Sekina Mijinyawa , who confirmed this development to journalists, said her husband left home for Gembu in Sardauna Local Government Area at about 7 : 00am , and was kidnapped thereafter.
“ He was on his way to the Mambilla Plateau to join his principal, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku , who is on campaign tour of the area.
“ He left in a Press Crew bus and I learnt he was kidnapped alongside a government official with whom he was driving in the Press Crew bus .
“ I want to appeal to the kidnappers to temper justice with mercy and release my husband unhurt,” she appealed .
One Yusuf Garba, who narrowly escaped the incident , said apart from the CPS and the government official that were abducted, an expatriate whom he said was on his way to one of the Internally Displaced Persons ’ camp , was also kidnapped.
Garba, who narrated how the kidnappers took over the highway for several hours, said the CPS and the other victims were dispossessed of their belonging , before they were led away into the forest by their abductors.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Akinremi , also confirmed the incident , but said Police have been deployed to the area to commence search for the victims