Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers killed the traditional ruler of Garin Moddibo, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu, in Ardo-Kola local government area of Taraba state on Monday night. They also kidnapped his wife and son.

The Nigerian Tribune reported that the armed men abducted an additional 8 people in the town, while 4 others were kidnapped in the Gulum area of Jalingo on the same night.

The chairman of Ardo-Kola LGA, Hon. Dalhatu Kawu, confirmed the incident to the correspondent, explaining that the gunmen invaded the town around 11:30 p.m. The attack occurred near Sunkani, the headquarters of Ardo-Kola Local Government.

“The gunmen invaded Garin Moddibo here in Ardo-Kola local government and killed HRH Alhaji Muhammadu, the traditional ruler of Garin Moddibo, while his wife and son were kidnapped.

They proceeded to two other nearby villages and abducted eight other people, including a nursing mother,” Kawu stated.

The late traditional ruler was recognised as a peace promoter who supported youth activities to maintain a crime-free community.

The council chairman also informed the state government about the situation and deployed hunters, led by the state chairman of the Hunters Association, Mr Dantala Adamu, to search the forests and mountains around the local government in an effort to rescue the abducted individuals.

Furthermore, four people were reportedly kidnapped in the Gulum area of Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, on the same night.

The spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents. He mentioned that a team of police special patrols has been dispatched to secure the safe release of the kidnapped persons and to apprehend the kidnappers. (Nigerian Tribune)