The traditional ruler of Sansani chiefdom in Gassol local government area of Taraba state, Alhaji Abdulmutalib Jankada, has been killed by gunmen who invaded his palace on Thursday night.
The killers rode into Sansani town on motorcycles, sneaked into the palace and gunned down their target.
The gunmen met the monarch in his sitting, seized his phones, shot him severally and he died on the spot.
The palace guards and family members never knew when the monarch was attacked and killed.
A local of Sansani town, Musa Sansani, said they heard sound gunshots but did not know it was from the palace.
“The late chief told us yesterday that he was traveling to Ibbi for the Nwonyo fishing Festival 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.
According to him the invaders fled after killing the monarch and it was his wife who found him dead inside his room who then raised alarm which attracted the entire people in the town and other towns in the chiefdom.
“We are mourning and the late chief will be buried after Friday prayers,” he said
The late chief was kidnapped along Jalingo-Wukari road two years ago, but was freed after ransom was paid.
The Taraba Commissioner of Police, David lloyanomon, referred our reporter to the command’s public relations officer, SP Usman Abdullahi who said he was sick, and cannot comment on the matter.
