Kidnapped Taraba Lawmaker Found Dead

The member representing Takum I constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, who was abducted by unknown gunmen two weeks ago was on Tuesday afternoon found dead.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. David Misal, who confirmed the death of the lawmaker, said his body was found at Kwari village, along the Takum -Kashinbilla Road.

Ibi was kidnapped on December 30, 2017 at about 10pm in his hometown of Takum and was killed by his abductors after an undisclosed sum of money was paid as ransom for his release.

The Chairman, House of Assembly’s Committee on Information, Saleh Sa’ad, confirmed the death of the lawmaker in a telephone interview with Punch correspondent with a promise to provide more information after further discussions with the police.


In his reaction, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mark Useni, expressed shock over the development, adding that the entire people of Takum and the state had been thrown into mourning.

Useni, who now represents Takum II in the Assembly, told journalists that the people of Takum and his colleagues in the House were looking forward to his release only to be shocked by the news of his death.

As of the time of filling this report, the remains of Hosea Ibi, who was elected into the House in 2015, were said to have been deposited at the morgue of the Takum General Hospital.