Taraba Lawmaker Escapes Attack Over Poor Performance, Misrepresentation

Panic erupted in Gassol town, headquarters of the Gassol local government area of Taraba State, as irate youths attacked the convoy of a state lawmaker, Hon. Abdullahi Muwalid, who narrowly escaped lynching.

The incident happened on Saturday, 7th February 2026, over alleged poor performance and misrepresentation at the house.

Hon. Muwalid, who is representing Gassol I Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, was in Gassol town to attend the wedding ceremony of one of his political associates when his visit turned violent.

Leadership gathered that the irate youths have been trailing the state lawmaker to embarrass him or end his political career.

It was reported that, the moments after Hon. Muwalid stepped into Gassol, a mob of youths armed with sticks and stones descended on his convoy, smashing vehicles in his convoy, which forced him to flee for safety.

Eyewitnesses claimed that, if not for the swift intervention of soldiers and police personnel stationed in the area, the lawmaker would have been dead by now.

“His rescue was as a result of the intervention of the operatives, who responded to a distress call and escorted him out of Gassol town.”

It was reported that several vehicles in his entourage were severely damaged, with one reportedly wrecked beyond repair, as no one was hurt in the incident.

According to residents of the area, the youths kept chanting “Ba tazarce, Ba tazarce,” meaning no second term for Hon. Muwalid.

They accused the lawmaker of neglecting the constituency and failing to address complaints tabled before him from the area.

They alleged that, since his election over two years ago, he had not initiated a single bill or made any meaningful impact on the people in the constituency.

Multiple sources said the lawmaker, who was informed of the planned attack, had earlier sent his loyalists to appeal to youth leaders to allow him to attend the wedding peacefully.

The youths, who initially appeared receptive, later mobilised in large numbers, blocked the only exit route from the town, and ambushed the convoy on the outskirts of Gassol.

“The anger has been building for a long time; they feel abandoned and used only during elections,” the eyewitness further said.

Security operatives eventually dispersed the crowd and escorted the lawmaker to safety, bringing the tense situation under control.

All efforts to reach the lawmaker or his aide at the time of filing this report failed.

Also, the police public relations officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, could not be reached when contacted to confirm the report from Gassol