Gunmen ambush, kill Plateau monarch in road attack

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia on Wednesday, ambushed and killed the traditional ruler of Gwande District in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Saf Samuel Alaket, while on his way back from a traditional council meeting at the council headquarters.

According to eyewitnesses, the bandits ambushed the monarch’s vehicle at about 7.30pm near the boundary between Sha District and Daffo community close to his hometown and opened fire on the vehicle.

The District Head reportedly sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment where he was later confirmed dead.

A community leader and member of the late District Head’s council, Peter Gwande who confirmed the attack in a phone call, described the murder of Saf Alaket as not only a painful loss to the people of Gwande community but also for the entire Bokkos LGA and Plateau State in general, adding that the attack has thrown the Bokkos Traditional Council and residents into mourning.

A youth leader in the Gwande community, Christopher Luka, who also spoke about the attack, stated that it has generated serious tension in the area, but that the situation has since been brought under control by security operatives.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or reply to text messages sent to his phone.