HugosMedia

 The Taraba Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the incident and said the Jalingo Division of the police had commenced investigation into the matter.
Tanko, according to an eyewitness, Alhaji Jibrin Bala, set himself ablaze because his family refused to approve his wedding with a girl, Blessing.
The eyewitness told sympathisers that Tanko introduced Blessing to his father as his proposed wife, but the father kicked against the union, describing it as a bad choice.
Bala said efforts by the father to convince his son to look for another girl failed, as he insisted that he could not survive without Blessing.
The eyewitness added that Tanko suddenly left his father and went to a corner in the compound, where he poured petrol on his body and set himself ablaze.
“When we suddenly saw fire, everybody ran toward the corner of the compound, only to see Tanko burning.
“The father and other people in the compound tried to rescue Tanko from the fire, but failed as the flame was much and we could not move near,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said, Tanko’s father is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, for injuries sustained while trying to rescue the son from the fire.

Lagos State Governor Baba-tunde Fashola yesterday said the primary responsibility of Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) is to ensure free flow of traffic and not to arrest motorists.

The governor’s statement came barely a week after a junior LASTMA official was caught demanding N8, 000 bribe from a motorist who contravened traffic rules.
The governor re-empha-sized the primary duty of  LASTMA operatives at the induction of new Special Traffic Mayor (STM) and interactive session of mayors and LASTMA personnel.
He said if in arresting those who contravened traffic rules and regulations in the state, a LASTMA official will create traffic, it is better he allows the offender to go.
 “I say this not because I don’t want law breakers to be brought to justice but because we need to keep traffic in Lagos moving at all times,” he said.
On the bribery allegation against a LASTMA official, Governor Fashola saluted the courage of the motorist that recorded the event, adding that by exposing the bad eggs in the agency and other government ministries, departments and parastatals, corruption will be reduced drastically in the country.
 “That LASTMA fellow, we learnt is on the run. We have declared him wanted and I can assure you that we will get him. He will have his day in court and we will get him out of the system,” he said.