Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has publicly clarified that his sister, Atsi Kefas, was not killed by bandits as earlier reported but was fatally shot by a police escort attached to his mother.
Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, Governor Kefas revealed that an internal investigation showed that Atsi was shot at close range by a police officer while traveling with their mother from Jalingo to Abuja earlier in 2024.
“Life is very precious to me. You can’t just end someone’s life and think God will be happy with you,” he said. “My younger sister was shot and killed by a police escort who was in the same vehicle with her.”
He added that medical personnel discovered pellets in her body during emergency surgery, confirming she was shot at close range. Atsi later succumbed to her injuries.
This statement sharply contradicts initial reports suggesting that the vehicle carrying the governor’s mother and sister had been ambushed by bandits along the Wukari-Chinkai Road in an attempted kidnapping.
Governor Kefas disclosed that the officer responsible is currently under investigation and emphasized that due process would be followed to ensure justice is served.
“I believe in justice. The officer is still being investigated, and we are committed to seeing this process through,” he said.
During the press briefing, the governor also addressed the recent violence in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, where over 50 people were reportedly killed in renewed communal clashes. He observed a minute of silence in honor of both his sister and the victims of the Karim-Lamido tragedy.
Expressing deep concern over the growing insecurity in the state, Kefas called on residents to embrace peace and reject violence. He also announced plans to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the Karim-Lamido conflict and recommend sustainable peace-building measures.
As of press time, the Taraba State Police Command has not released an official statement regarding the governor’s allegations or the status of the ongoing investigation.
