Plateau Federal lawmaker loses 53 aides to terrorists attacks

Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/ Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, and Chairman House committee on Navy Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi said he lost 19 persons who were his coordinators and 24 contact persons during the recent terrorists attack that claimed over 130 persons in rural communities of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

He said he had raised the alarm over the concentration of Boko Haram around the area when he was the Deputy Speaker at the Plateau State House of Assembly and during plenary at the House of Representatives, but no action was taken.

Gagdi disclosed this at the weekend when the Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, led by the Chairman Mr Paul Jatau paid him a condolence visit at his office in Jos, Plateau State.

The Lawmaker said he was at Hajji praying for peace and unity of Nigeria when bandits invaded his constituency two weeks ago.

“I wasn’t in the country when the incident happened, I was supposed to be in Saudi Arabia and come back at the end of this month but I had to come back from the Hajji. I cannot be representing people that are kill over 127 persons and stay outside the country to pray, praying for what.

“I came back to pray where the people are being kill to also attend to those issues. This is one of my worse political journey in my life because out of the 127 people killed, 19 were my coordinators when I was contesting for State House of Assembly and 24 were my contact men at various polling units when I contested for House of Representatives in 2019.

”You could see how that atta k affected me. I have said it everywhere that if these people were to be alive, I am sure everyone of them will call me by my name and I am sure I can call over 50 of them by name because they are people that we have worked together since 2018.”

He appreciated the Governor of Plateau State for his swift response and intervention in addressing the plights of the survivors and directive to beefed up security in the communities.

Gagdi applauded Journalists in the state for their support through objective and balance reportage that has calm down nerves when such incidences occured.

He pledged to continue to work and support journalists in the state by prioritizing issues that will create a conducive working atmosphere for them to serve the state and Nigeria.

Hon. Gagdi also ordered his team of technicians to visit the NUJ Secretariat with surveyors to investigate where a motorized borehole would be sited at the secretariat to provide water.

Chairman of the NUJ, Plateau State Council, Mr Paul Jatau condoled the lawmaker over attacked in his constituency and assured him of the support of Journalists in the state exposing criminal activities in the state through their reports.

He applauded Gagdi for attracting Federal Government presence to his constituency through robust bills that have direct bearing on the lives of the citizens and mostly recently is the upgrading of the Federal College of Education Pankshin to a University
Status.

“Although it is not possible to enumerate all your achievements in human and capital development of your constituency and the state in the last three years, but mention must be made of the significant role you played towards the upgrading of Federal College of Education Pankshin to a Federal University of Education.

“Also worthy of note is the payment of WAEC and NECO fees for your constituents. We must not forget to mention your series of empowerment programmes for the people of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam (PKK).

“Let me on behalf of NUJ Plateau Council commend and appreciate you for sustaining a cordial relationship with journalists on the Plateau and beyond.

“We are indebted to you for being a Pillar of Support to the Union and for standing with us at all times.