Gunmen kill traditional ruler in Plateau, nine others in Kaduna community

THE Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State has been thrown into mourning following the killing of a prominent traditional ruler, the District Head of Gwande, Saf Samuel Alakety, by gunmen in the council area.

This comes after rampaging gunmen killed nine people and injured 11 others in the AngwanMagaji community in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which borders Plateau State, on Wednesday.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the District Head was killed in an ambush by gunmen on Tuesday at about 7:30 pm in Sha District which borders the Daffo community.

A highly competent source in the community disclosed that the traditional ruler had on Tuesday attended a traditional council meeting in Bokkos before embarking on a journey back to Gwande.

According to the source, the gunmen ambushed his car at a border between Daffo community and Sha District on his way home. His assailants shot him and fled.

The district head was then carried to a local clinic by some Good Samaritans who came on the scene just in time, but he died while being treated by health officials.

Mr. AtenPukat, a member of the Gwande community, said that the loss was difficult for the entire local government, particularly the traditional council, and that the deceased was a well-known traditional ruler who had made significant contributions to fostering peace in the council and the state at large.

Efforts to reach the Plateau police command spokesman, SP Alfred Alabo, for more information were unsuccessful.

In another development, gunmen on Wednesdays attacked the AngwanMagaji community in Kamaru Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which borders Plateau State, killing nine people and injuring11 others

According to a statement signed by the national publicity secretary of the Irigwe Youth Movement, Joseph ChuduYonkpa, the attackers invaded the community at about 1:00 am and opened fire on the residents.

The statement listed those killed by the gunmen as Jerry Doctor, 51; DanlamiMagani, 49; Sunday Chibi, 53; Rita Abdullahi, 45; Sunday Elkan, 5; Esther Kefas, 5; Happy Friday, 6; Moses Daddy, 4; and Daddy Ibrahim, 28 while 11 other residents sustained varying degrees of injuries.

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The national secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, Danjuma Dickson Auta, who confirmed the incident, condemned the attack, adding that those killed and injured were Irgwe from Bassa local government area of Plateau State but living in Kajuru.