Gunmen kill traditional ruler in Taraba state

The traditional ruler of Sansani Chiefdom in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, Abdulmutalib Jankada has been killed by gunmen who attacked his palace few hours before the Nwonyo International Fishing and Cultural Festival organised by the state government in the Ibbi Local Government Area of the state.

Penpushing reports that a witness who narrated the incident explained that the royal father was killed after the gunmen asked him several questions, adding that the alleged killers rode into Sansani town on motorcycles, sneaked into the palace and gunned down their target and quickly left with the victim’s phones

The witness Musa Sansani, a resident of Sansani, added that they heard gunshots but did not know the shots were from the palace, recalling that the traditional ruler before the sudden death told some of his subjects that he was travelling to Ibbi Nwonyo Fishing Festival scheduled to hold on Friday

‘The late chief told us yesterday that he was travelling to Ibbi for the Nwonyo Fishing Festival, which is taking place on Friday and Saturday. We never knew the chief did not travel yesterday evening so when we heard the gunshots, we did not suspect it was inside the palace,” he said.

Penpushing further reports that Sansani added that the wife raised the alarm after finding the body of the traditional ruler inside his room, which attracted the attention of people in the town and other neighboring communities.

‘We are mourning and the late chief will be buried after Friday prayers. They came to the area at about 9 p.m. last night, they went straight to his palace, shot him and snatched his two phones. While they were going, they met with a young man who was coming on a motorcycle, they also shot and broke his leg before leaving the village’, Sansani said.

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the late royal father was two years ago abducted along Jalingo-Wukari road and a ransom was paid for his release, and with this killing the incident brought the number of traditional rulers killed in the state to about seven in the last few years.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Command Acting Public Relations Officer Gambo Kwache, when contacted said she was aware of the incident but had yet to get the details.

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