Plateau Speaker Escapes Assassination, Nine Injuired At Crusade

by Topsy Oba

Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, John Dabwan, on Tuesday night escaped death by a whisker when gunmen attacked him at a church crusade in Jos South Local Government Area.

The gunmen wounded nine people, who are now on admission at the Plateau Specialists Hospital.

Eyewitness said the gunmen entered the premises where members of the Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria were holding a crusade, demanding the whereabouts of the Speaker.

The Speaker, it was gathered, remained anonymous when the gunmen, who shot sporadically into the air, asked after him.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent, “We noticed that all was not well when we spotted the gunmen, who demanded where the Speaker was in loud tone.

“Some of us were not aware that the Speaker was there and I think he sensed trouble so he drove out quickly before anyone could identify him.”

The situation, it was learnt, was saved following the timely intervention of members of the Special Task Force, who arrived on the scene on hearing gunshots.

The STF operatives, stationed in nearby Lomay Hotel, conveyed the injured worshipers to the Plateau Specialists Hospital.

Confirming the incident, the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Nandak Shingle, said her principal was at the crusade when the gunmen arrived the scene.

Efforts to reach the STF Spokesman, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, and his Police counterpart, Emmanuel Onuigbo, were unsuccessful.

The Punch