Samuel told SaharaReporters that agents of the state government led by the Aide De Camp to the state governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, have been making efforts to kill him. He said he has it on good authority that the state government through the Attorney General have concluded plans with a Magistrate Court in Jalingo to remand me in prison with stringent bail conditions on Monday (today).
The publisher and Managing Editor of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, Ayodele Samuel has raised the alarm over alleged threats to his life by agents of the Taraba State government.
Samuel told SaharaReporters that agents of the state government led by the Aide De Camp to the state governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, have been making efforts to kill him. He said he has it on good authority that the state government through the Attorney General have concluded plans with a Magistrate Court in Jalingo to remand me in prison with stringent bail conditions on Monday (today).
The newspaper publisher who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM 92.3 Jalingo, said, “While it appears that the government is trying to unjustly repress me through the legal framework through a petition to the police to investigate some reports published by the Taraba Truth and Facts Newspapers with regards to the privatization of the Mambilla Beverages Company and the College of Nursing, Jalingo, its agent are also simultaneously trying to eliminate me, giving me no room to be vindicated.
“Some of the publications that are said to have angered the government were published on Taraba Truth and Facts, as well as several notable media organizations in the country. Rather than give their side of the story, they have chosen to specifically go after Taraba Truth and Facts and my individual self.
“I also want to bring to your notice that the ADC and some top government officials are victimizing me on the grounds that I’m not an indigene of Taraba State and lack standards to publish a newspaper in the state. It's a common statement within those corridors of power in Taraba State that 'I should return to my fatherland.’ An aide to Governor Ishaku once wrote this.
“I strongly believe I need to be alive to defend myself from any allegations levelled against me, the state owes a duty to protect me. I’m however not confident of my safety in Taraba State any longer.”
According to him, the plots were held in the Government House by some top government officials in the state and supervised by Governor Ishaku's ADC.
Samuel narrated that on Friday, November 25, 2022, after honouring a police invitation at the Taraba State Police Command, Jalingo at about 6.30 pm, he observed a black Toyota Prado SUV car with tinted glasses and covered plate number following the vehicle he was in. He drove iintothe Access Bank Area where he took a detour.
“At about 8 pm of that very day, I and my team also observed that the same Toyota Prado SUV was packed close to Galaxy Hotel, Jalingo where I usually lodge. This forced me to abandon the hotel.”
He said that on Saturday, the same Toyota Prado SUV was seen around Ishaku Continental Hotel, where he was lodged at about 8 pm.
“Since Friday, 25th November 2022, I have been living in fear and my movements are being closely monitored by agents of Taraba State Government for reasons best known to them.”
Samuel said that confidential sources at the Danbaba Suntai Airport have informed him that some 'security agent' had inquired if he was booked to travel out of the state on Overland Airline.
“This strange Prado Jeep with some unfriendly faces have been parading my business premises, putting my workers under extreme tension.
“As a law-abiding citizen, I have honoured two police invitations between Friday and Saturday within the shortest notice, I wondered why the agents of Taraba State Government are still on my trail.
“I wish to, by this, call the attention of the Inspector General of Police and all relevant security agencies to investigate my claims.”