As controversy continues to trail the alleged killing of a community leader in Panyam District of Mangu local government area of Plateau, Alhaji Ardo Adamu Gabdo, the Panyam District Development Association (PDDA) stated that Gabdo was not killed in the community as posited by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The association, in a statement signed by its chairman, Longse Jokle, and secretary, Joshua Gufwan, respectively, narrated that the community leader was not in Panyam town on the said date, as alleged.
“It will be needless to go through the narration behind the alleged dastardly act, but one thing that stands out clearly, which must be stressed for the sake of history and posterity, is the fact that the Ardo was not in Panyam town on the said date as alleged, not to mention being in the palace of our revered traditional ruler ”the Mishkaham Panyam”.
“This can be attested to by the fact that no one testified of ever seeing him in town on the said day. Assuming it is true that he was, the love the people of Panyam have for him wouldn’t have allowed anyone to touch him, not to even talk of eliminating him as alledged by the Fulani umbrella body MACBAN and the special task force operation safe heaven.”
The group stated that the government believes that the people of Panyam are peace-loving and accommodating and have no justifiable reason to go to that extreme, adding that the people are very much ready to assist in unraveling the misery behind the alleged disappearance if the perpetrators are within its domain.
It expressed its displeasure with the remarks of some individuals who, even when the investigation was yet to commence on the
The disappearance of Ardo made incriminating statements against the good people of Panyam.
Said he: While we subscribed totally to the fact that assuming Ardo is found dead, it must be an act of criminal elements that are found in every society and of which such a blame should not be placed at our doorstep.
“While we lament over the unfolding events, we equally want to condemn, in strong terms, the action of STF, who on Monday this week moved the Mishkaham Panyam away from his palace to Mangu under the guise of questioning him on the disappearance of the Ardo, who incidentally was one of the closest community leaders to him.
“We therefore ask, why didn’t they question the traditional ruler in his palace? The risk of whisking him away at that unholy hour of the night to Mangu was a disrespect to our traditional stool. Would they do the same to the traditional rulers of where they came from for whatever reason?” The group queried.
The Association, therefore, called on the military to leave the traditional ruler alone and to also allow the people of Panyam to breathe the air of freedom in the face of continued arrest and detention of the people.
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