From Odeh Ogaji, Taraba
The abducted Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Taraba state chapter, Comrade Jadiel Balanko has regained freedom.
Comrade Balanko who was kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday morning at his residence in Sunkani Administrative Headquarters of Ardo, Kola Local Government Area of Taraba state was released by his abductors on Monday.
The chairman, who spoke after regaining freedom, was full of praise to God, family, friends, well wishers, colleagues and government for their relentless efforts and prayers for him to be released by the abductors within the shortest possible time unhurt.
Narrating his experience, Balanko said, it was indeed a harrowing experience which he would not wish for any one to go through.
Stressing, he called on the state government and citizens of the state to collaborate with security agencies to save the state and citizens from criminal elements. He also called on youths in Taraba in particular, to be proactive in checkmating suspicious movement and report them to security forces immediately, for prompt response.
It could be recalled that, eyewitness account revealed that, the abductors came in great numbers into the chairman’s residence and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare people away, until they gained access into the house and took him away to an unknown destination.
Comrade Balanko who assumed office less than one year ago, after the sudden demise of the former chairman, late Comrade Peter Gambo, doubles as Chairman, Nigeria Health Workers Union.
When contacted, the family of the kidnapped Balanko had said they were not contacted by his abductors or got any useful information about his whereabout.
The Taraba Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Reform Leha, had confirmed the abduction of the Taraba NLC chairman. She said the command had put out mechanism to track down the perpetrators and bring them to book, no matter who is involved.
In another development, the Senior Special Assistant to Engr Haruna Manu, the Deputy Governor of Taraba state, Bala Baba has been abducted by unknown gunmen in his Sabongeri area of Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba state.
The abductors stormed the family home at about 1:30am Tuesday, shooting for over 30 minutes, gained entrance, abducted him and whisked him to an unknown destination.
When contacted, the Press Secretary to Deputy Governor, Mallam Lawan Sani Kona confirmed the incident to The Voice via phone.
According to Lawan, no communication has been established by the abductors with the victims family nor the deputy governor’s office.