Police detain Suntai's aide

The already tensed political atmosphere in Taraba State was yesterday heightenedfollowing the arrest and detention  of Senior Special Assistant to Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba by the police for no clear reason yet.

Sylvanus Giwa was picked up along with his friends by police men around 11pm from the Sanaf Suite opposite Catholic Cathedral, Mile 6, Jalingo.

No reason was given by the police for the arrest, but sources said Giwa was detained in connection with offensive statements he made against the state's acting governor, Garba Umar.

He was alleged to have issued a statement castigating Umar for claiming, last week, that he was 100 percent loyal to his boss, Suntai.

The acting governor is alleged to have been uncomfortable with the statement and asked security agents to invite him for explanations.

Although he was taken to the police station on Friday night, he was still being kept at the counter yesterday afternoon while spirited efforts were being made to release him on bail.

The acting governor's spokesman, Sule Kefas, denied that his boss had any hand in the arrest.

One of the four arrested alongside Giwa was Bar. Hamidu Ali, said to be in the hotel for a religious purpose.

'As I speak to you, the acting governor is not aware of the arrest and did not ask anyone to arrest Giwa,' Kefas said.