By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
The younger sister of Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has died from injuries sustained after an accidental discharge from a police officer’s firearm.
Atsi Kefas, aged 44, passed away early Tuesday at a private hospital in Abuja while receiving treatment.
The tragic incident occurred on December 5 along the Wukari-Kente road when unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers ambushed a vehicle convoy carrying the governor’s mother, Mrs. Jummai Kefas.
During the attack, a security officer in the convoy attempted to return fire but mistakenly shot Atsi, who was seated next to Mrs. Kefas.
Family sources disclosed that Atsi was initially rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari, where her condition was stabilized before she was transferred to Abuja for further care. Medical teams worked tirelessly to save her life, but she succumbed to her injuries five days later.
The suspected kidnappers were reportedly targeting Mrs. Kefas for abduction, although this remains under investigation.
As of press time, the Taraba State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
In a condolence message, former PDP National Women Leader Hon. Tina Musa described Atsi’s death as a significant loss to the state.
“We lost a sister to the cold hands of death in our political family,” Musa said. She praised Atsi as a “quintessential and passionate change agent,” whose faith, integrity, and generosity left an indelible mark.
Musa expressed condolences to Governor Kefas and the entire Kefas family, adding, “Death is not the end for you but a passage to a more glorious home.”
The incident has drawn widespread sympathy, with many mourning the loss of a prominent figure described as compassionate and resilient.