8 Deaths At APC Taraba Rally: SGF Leads Buhari's Delegation To Taraba

  

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday dispatched a team to Jalingo, Taraba State, to condole with the government and people of the state over the loss of lives at his campaign rally on Thursday, Feb. 7.

The team, led by Mr Boss Gida Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), included Governor of Adamawa, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla; Senator Ali Ndume and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello.

Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf, a Taraba stakeholder, also joined the team.

At the Taraba Government House, where the team was received by Governor Darius Ishaku, Mr Boss Mustapha, speaking on behalf of the President, lamented the sad loss of eight people during and after the rally, saying they did not die in vain.

Responding, Governor Ishaku expressed “sincere gratitude and thanks to Mr President for promptly sending a delegation to condole with us,” adding that the people of Taraba were grateful for the show of concern.

An official letter of condolence personally signed by the President was presented to the governor by the SGF.

At the palace of the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, the leader of the delegation condoled with the monarch and the people on behalf of the President, praying that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

In response, the Emir said it was President Buhari that needed to be condoled, since he lost his supporters, who loved him dearly.

Earlier, Gov. Ishaku had accused the APC of importing thugs into the state  for the rally. He said they in turn caused tension and damaged vehicles including those in his convoy while he was on his way from the airport where he received the president. 

According to Channels Television reports Thursday, Feb. 7, he said,  “Thugs hired by the APC leaders in the state turned the event into an opportunity to launch violent attacks on members and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the process, several lives were lost.