Gunmen abduct traditional ruler in Nasarawa

NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia

The Sangarin Dari in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Chief Emmanuel Omanji, has been snatched from his palace by some unidentified gunmen suspected to be bandits.

The incident followed an overnight invasion of the area on Wednesday by individuals who shot sporadically before abducting the monarch from his palace.

A member of the community who pleaded to be unnamed, said the perpetrators who were armed gate-crashed into the palace, firing shots indiscriminately before whisking away the traditional ruler to an unknown destination.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

Ranham Nansel, a superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer of the Command said the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro Mohammed has mobilized teams of police, military and vigilante groups to the area for the purpose of conducting rescue operations.

Nansel expressed optimism that the victim will be found and released safely, and the culprits apprehended.

He, however, implored members of the public with helpful information to make same available to the security agencies.

“The CP has assured that the royal father will be rescued but called on anyone with useful information not to hesitate to report to the police,” he noted.

After a seeming lull, human snatching, especially of traditional rulers appears to grabbing headlines again in Nasarawa State.