The Catholic cleric was travelling to Takum, via Wukari Road, when he was ambushed by unknown attackers at Kufai Amadu in Takum Local Government Area of the state, who burned him with his vehicle after killing him.
According to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, the Most Rev. Charles Hammawa, Rev. Fr. David Tanko was travelling to Takum for a peace meeting with his fellow clergymen on how to resolve the lingering Tiv-Jukun crisis when he was attacked.
Condoling the Catholic Family in Nigeria over the unfortunate incident, the IGP expressed deep concern over recent incidents of attacks on clergymen in some parts of the country and directed Commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to, henceforth, pay special attention to the clergy and increase security around worship centres nationwide.
“The IGP,” Mba continued in the statement, “further directed the DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to provide additional forensic and other investigative assets to the Taraba State Command to aid investigations into the incident.”
In the time being, Adamu enjoined Nigerians to be calm and give maximum support to the police in the bid towards unravelling the masterminds of the crime, identify their motives and circumstances surrounding the unfortunate killing of the priest.
The IGP reassured the nation that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will not go undetected and unpunished.