In a heartbreaking twist to a months-old tragedy, Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has revealed that contrary to earlier reports, his younger sister, Atsi Kefas, was not killed by bandits but was fatally shot by a police escort attached to their mother.
The stunning disclosure came during a press briefing in Jalingo, where the governor addressed journalists with emotion-laden clarity. Governor Kefas recounted the harrowing details of the tragic incident, which occurred six months ago along the Wukari-Chonku Road while his mother and late sister were en route to Abuja from Jalingo.
> “Life is very precious. You can’t just take a life and think God will be happy with you,” Governor Kefas stated somberly. “My younger sister was shot and killed by a police escort who was sitting inside the same vehicle with her.”
The governor explained that a fresh, independent investigation has now confirmed that the fatal shot was fired at close range from inside the vehicle—dispelling the widely circulated narrative of an ambush by suspected bandits.
An autopsy further corroborated the findings, revealing gun pellets embedded in Atsi’s body—strong evidence that the shooting was internal, not external. The implicated officer, who was tasked with protecting the family, is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation.
The initial reports had suggested that the attack was an attempted kidnapping targeting the governor’s mother, but Governor Kefas’ revelations have now turned the spotlight inward—on those entrusted with the family’s security.
The tragic announcement was made during a solemn ceremony in Jalingo, where Governor Kefas also led a moment of silence in honour of both his sister and over 50 victims recently massacred in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area during a brutal attack by suspected herders.
In a powerful speech, the governor decried the rising wave of bloodshed in Taraba State and condemned the senseless violence that has claimed countless innocent lives.
> “People who should be building together are now killing one another without justification. We cannot continue like this,” he lamented.
To tackle the worsening security crisis, Governor Kefas unveiled plans to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the underlying causes of the recurring communal clashes and restore peace in the troubled regions.
He vowed that no one would be spared if found guilty of stoking violence, stressing that “Taraba will no longer be a safe haven for killers, no matter who they are.”
As Taraba grapples with grief and rage over the governor’s personal loss and the widespread bloodshed, the revelation of police complicity in such a high-profile tragedy is expected to send shockwaves through the security establishment and spark national debate on trust, accountability, and reform within law enforcement.
PIONEER NEWS 