Gunmen on rampage in Plateau, abduct Monarch

Reign of terror has continued in Plateau State as gunmen at the early hours of yesterday, abducted the paramount ruler of Gindiri, His Royal Highness, Charles Mato Dakota in Mangu local government area of the State.

It was learnt that the gunmen who were in their large number invaded the palace at midnight on Sunday and whisked the traditional ruler to an unknown destination.

A source close to his palace told newsmen that the gunmen stormed the palace at precisely 12:45 am, overpowered the local security guards before gaining access to the inner building in the palace where the traditional ruler was abducted, at about 1:00 am.

According to the source, who is one of the chiefs in the palace, the gunmen made an incursion into the community without being noticed adding that there were sporadic gunshots when the monarch was being taken away.

“It was a smooth operation that lasted for just fifteen minutes, they invaded the palace whisked the monarch away without being noticed by people around apart from the local guards they demobilised.

“He was in the palace alone because the wife had travelled to Jos and the children were also not around. His abduction was only discovered this morning (Sunday) when some people went to the palace to pay homage as usual but could not trace his whereabouts. By the time an alarm was raised it was too late”, he said.

He further disclosed that hunters and vigilantes are presently combing the hills and forests in the local government area for his whereabouts, adding that the situation in Gindiri town is tense as a result of the kidnapping of the monarch.

Attempts to reach the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, on his phone proved abortive.