I"m addicted to alcohol and sick - Governor Suntai confesses

By Channels Tv

Sick Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, has said he is very sick and is not fit to return as governor of the state.

Governor Suntai

Suntai, who is recovering from a severe injury sustained from a plane crash, also expressed worry at his excessive intake of alcohol.

In a secret recording by Channels TV, Suntai, whose speech was slurred, appears not too coherent, and says he is addicted to alcohol.

Although it was not clear who was enabling his addiction, some of those seated around him appeared not to care about his worry.

His wife has been accused of being selfish, power hungry and enabler of his addiction.

Below is the transcript:

CHANNELS: I am happy to meet you Your Excellency

SUNTAI: I am happy to receive you, and I believe my governor has received you before me.

CHANNELS: What will be your message to Nigerians?

SUNTAI: If they can put all those things aside and attend to God, because God did not like what we are doing, but we are still doing it. God does not permit us to do bad deeds, but it is unfortunate that we decided to listen to the devil in this case. it is very unfortunate that I am addicted to alcohol (too much drinking of beer)

CHANNELS: Are you well enough to return to your office for the position of the executive governor of Taraba state?

SUNTAI: Well I can tell you it is well with me to return to my office simply because I want you to support me. But you know the truth I am not well at all to return to my office, as I am now.

CHANNELS: But with time will you pick up and be able to discharge your duties?

SUNTAI: I know that I will pick up with time and be able to discharge my duties, but that will take some time. And I promise never to misbehave again.

CHANNELS: Finally, what will be your message to the people of Taraba State?

SUNTAI: Let them try to live according to the laws of God and that will definitely give them a very exciting life on this earth. But if you go outside from God’s laws you will just destroy yourself, and this is what is happening to me. Drinking of alcohol is not a good thing at all.

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I"m addicted to alcohol and sick - Governor Suntai confesses

Fulani herdsmen invade Wukari, kill 20 people

Jalingo—No fewer than twenty persons have been feared dead and scores of others injured when Fulani herdsmen allegedly invaded Tunari village in Wukari Local Government of Taraba State yesterday. The attackers were said to have stormed the village at 10 am and set houses ablaze while most residents were in church.

Fulani Herdsmen in Taraba

Speaking to Vanguard on the crisis, the President of the Youth of Vision, Wukari, Mr Tsa-asen L. Agbu said the invaders, who were over three hundred, attacked mainly the Jukun Christians, a situation which he said has compelled a lot of persons to relocate from the area.

According to him “they are burning down houses and killing our Jukun Christian brothers. They slaughtered children and women like rams. As I am talking to you right now, over twenty people have been killed, with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries while several houses have been burnt.”

Another eyewitness told Vanguard that “the attackers operated for several hours killing and burning down houses without any trace of security men to come to our rescue.”

According to the eyewitness, “these people took us unawares, and I believe they came from the nearby Plateau State. I think the level of damage would have been worse but for the fact that many of our people have gone to church.”

A pastor of one of the churches, said the death toll was “more than twenty” and that most of the victims were women and children who according to him “were attacked on their way to their various churches.

The Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Joseph Kwaji, who confirmed the incident was however unable to provide the casualty figure saying authentic figures were yet to be made available to the command.

According to him “Tunari village in Wukari Local Government was attacked this morning by the Fulani people, but our men have been drafted there to restore peace”.

 

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Fulani herdsmen invade Wukari, kill 20 people

Governor Suntai"s return causes anxiety in Taraba

There is anxiety in Taraba State as ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, returns to Nigeria.

Suntai, who went overseas for treatment landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja late Saturday night.

The ailing governor has been in and out of the state for medical treatment abroad following an air crash in Yola of the Cessna 208 aircraft, which he piloted.

An earlier press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, had noted that he was expected back on Saturday and expected to arrive Jalingo later on Sunday or Monday.

However in Jalingo, the state capital, there is confusion and apprehension over the fate of the governor as he is expected to resume duties as the executive governor of the state.

The apprehension is further heightened by the order state executive council to the speaker of the house of Assembly asking the house to set up a medical team to assess the state of health of the acting governor.

But the letter has generated heated debate as to the real intention of the investigation. Loyalists of the ailing governor are accusing acting Governor Umar Garba, of trying to use the investigation to assume full executive powers by declaring the ailing governor permanently incapacitated, an accusation aides of the acting governor have vehemently denied.

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Governor Suntai"s return causes anxiety in Taraba

Gunmen kill 13 Fulani herdsmen in Taraba

Jalingo – The police in Jalingo confirmed that unknown gunmen on Saturday trailed and killed 13 Fulani herdsmen who were returning from village markets in Garba-Chede and Maihula.

Gunmen

ASP Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command in the state made the disclosure on Sunday in Jalingo.

He said the herdsmen were waylaid and killed by unidentified group of armed youths along a bush path in the outskirts of Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, no arrest has been made but the command has beefed up security in the area to track down the perpetrators.

He added that it was not clear why the incident took place but further investigation would be able to reveal the reasons for the attack and the people behind it.

The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Mr Andrew Yerima, said the herdsmen were trailed by the armed men from Garba-Chede market where they were believed to have gone to sell their cows.

Yerima called for calm and advised residents of the area not to take the law into their hands.

He assured them that the culprits would be brought to book. (NAN)

 

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Gunmen kill 13 Fulani herdsmen in Taraba

New attack: Gunmen kill 15 in Wukari, Taraba State

By Ehi Ekhator

Unknown gunmen attacked Gidin-Doruwa village in Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State killing no fewer than `15 persons on Easter Sunday.

Garba Umar, Tarara State Acting Governor

According to some residences, over 52 houses were destroyed including that of the Daily Independent’s reporter, Janet Audu’s family house in Jalingo.

The gunmen struck barely 24 hours the Acting Governor Garba Umar visited Wukari and pleaded with everyone for peace.

An eyewitnesses who narrated the incident said gunmen opened fire on the town at about 1.30 on Sunday as Christians were still celebrating the Night of Life to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

Out of fear, the confused and scared residents began to run and the gunmen burn their houses and churches etc.

Out of anger, the youth in the area started destroying some mosques when they saw the CRCN church caught fire.

According to the residents who flee during the attack, the attackers came from all corners and cordoned the town before they started shooting without provocation. The gun fire continued till yesterday evening.

The presence of the policemen and soldiers who were deployed to the community did not stop the gunmen who came in large number carrying sophisticated weapons.

A resident said that the situation was so bad that some of the security men may have decided to retreat.

The Police spokesman Assistant Superintendant of Police, (ASP) Joseph Kwaji confirmed that the presence of the riot policemen sent from the state command could not stop the shooting and they had to reinforce from Mopol 34 Squadron, Gombe and 14 Squadron, Adamawa State.

the Superintendent told our correspondent (not NAIJA CENTER NEWS) that he was expecting the report on the casualty figures from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

He said “I am trying to get detailed information from the DPO. We are aware that a village in Wukari has been attacked, but I can’t precisely tell the media the number of casualties, the injured and houses burnt now.

“Today’s (yesterday’s) attack and killings were carried out by unknown gunmen,” he said.

The Divisional Secretary of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Lucky Navokhi, was also not certain about the casualty figure and other fatalities.

“Hostilities are still on so we don’t have accurate information to make public now,” he said.

The Acting Governor of Taraba State, Umar Garba referred the killings as unfortunate, barbaric and unacceptable.

He said this through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Aaron Atimas,. Umar promised that government would do everything possible to make sure that the lives and properties of the citizens are protected.

He said “The perpetrators of the crisis must be brought to book. Government cannot fold her arms and watch her citizens die in the hands of heartless people,” Umar said and appealed to the people to be calm.

Speaking on the issue, Commissioner for Information, Atte Sale Kundu expressed sadness that despite the move by the Acting Governor to appeal to the people to embrace peace, the crisis was still far from over.

He said: “We don’t know where the problem is coming from,”

The crisis in Taraba started from Ibi, Cassol and Takum local government areas and now hot in Wukari. It was reported that 24 persons were killed last week, 34 injured while 99 houses were destroyed.

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New attack: Gunmen kill 15 in Wukari, Taraba State

Police arrest 24 suspect over Wukari, Taraba attack

The Police in Taraba have arrested 24 suspects in connection with a clash which occurred in Wukari on April 15.

ASP Joseph Kwaji, the police spokesperson in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo on Sunday that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

“The command has so far arrested 24 persons in connection with the current Wukari crisis, I

can assure you that the suspects would soon be prosecuted”, he said.

NAN recalls that violence broke out in Wukari on April 15 when youths in the town protested the alleged killings in some villages by suspected herdsmen.

Alhaji Garba Umar, Acting Governor of Taraba, during a visit to the troubled area on Friday, imposed a 24 hour curfew on the town.

Police arrest 24 suspect over Wukari, Taraba attack

Fulani herdsmen lay siege to Taraba town, residents flee

Wukari town in Taraba State has reportedly come under another serious attack by gunmen, said to be militant herdsmen, who appear to have shifted their attacks to the state.

The troubled town, which is outside Jalingo, the state capital, is said to be under heavy bombardment by the gunmen, who are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Some villages in the area had, for the past few days, come under  the attack of the violent herdsmen, who had killed hundreds in Kaduna, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states in recent times.

Residents, who have managed to escape the Thursday attack, are said to be fleeing to neighbouring towns.

The fleeing residents, who alleged that several villagers had been killed by the herdsmen in Wukari, have called for the immediate intervention of security operatives before the town is destroyed.

Fulani herdsmen lay siege to Taraba town, residents flee

Agyo, Sacked State Commissioner died a sad man, says family

Sacked Taraba State Commissioner of Works, Mr. Jonah Agyo is dead. He died at Courage Clinic, Jalingo after a prolong illness.

He would be buried in his country home Wukari, Taraba South on Saturday, the family disclosed.

Garba Umar, Tarara State Acting Governor

The deceased was Chairman on Due Process, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and was holding sway as Commissioner of Works before he was sacked alongside eight members of the State Executive Council by Acting Governor Garba Umar for allegedly failing to account for the N400 million Federal Government’s intervention funds for victims of flood disaster in the state.

The sacked officials have since gone to court, claiming they were fired for opposing a proposal to impeach recuperating Governor Danbaba Suntai on health grounds.

A family source said: “The sack broke Agyo’s heart, which may have quickened his death

He added: “Agyo was a very sad man for what he felt tarnished the image of his brilliant career.

“Agyo was on his sickbed in Israel when the House of Assembly panel constituted at the directive of the acting governor indicted him.

“He was largely away throughout the period and never saw a penny of the flood fund.”

Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker Josiah Sabo Kente has paid a condolence visit to the family announcing that he would relay the sad news of Agyo’s death to the acting governor.

But Agyo’s family members, led by the deceased’s first son, Magai, roundly rejected the suggestion, it was learnt.

The family reportedly said it would not want any involvement of the acting governor as the action would be “controversial.”

Our source said Agyo’s relatives insist they would not accept any monetary donations from the acting governor apart from the deceased’s entitlements.

“After tarnishing his (Agyo’s) image they want to come and play politics at his funeral. We won’t take that,” the source added. (0)

Agyo, Sacked State Commissioner died a sad man, says family