Ibrahim Tia, the regional minister for the North East, has spoken candidly about the psychological toll of the recent attacks in Walewale, stating that his brother died in the carnage and that he is completely traumatized by the experience.

In an interview with Citi FM on Monday, February 17, he recalled his attempts to control the situation through stakeholder engagements.

“I engaged the chiefs in Walewale. I visited the hospital to check on those who were in the bus that got burnt and others who, I heard, had been brutalized by the security forces in the area,” he said.

Despite his efforts to de-escalate the situation and provide medical attention for the injured, the violence continued to intensify.

“From there, I decided to go to the next village to greet the chief and inform them that the situation was gradually getting out of hand. As a result, a curfew was imposed,” he stated, as quoted by citinewsroom.com.

The minister came under direct attack while at the palace.

“I was in the palace when an attack occurred due to the imposition of the curfew. I was held hostage until a combined team of the military and police arrived and rescued me,” he recalled.

Tragically, his brother lost his life in the mayhem.

“As a result of this, I lost my own brother in Walewale. I am deeply traumatized,” the minister disclosed.

KA

In the meantime, watch as John Jinapor recounts ordeal after leaving office in 2017