A traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Aminu Derwan, has been kidnapped by bandits who attacked his palace in Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The gunmen numbering over 20 were said to have took away Derwan, the district head of Panyam, after scaring residents with gunshots in the early hours of Monday.
According to PUNCH, a resident of Panyam community, Moses Garuba, who confirmed the abduction of the monarch on Monday said, “It was last night around midnight that the bandits, who were more than 20 and heavily armed, surrounded the district head’s palace in Panyam.
“Because his house was not fenced, some villagers who saw how his house was surrounded by strange people alerted other members of the community through a community bell. But immediately the bandits heard the bell, they started firing gunshots and eventually went away with the traditional ruler, leaving the community helpless.”
Some residents, who condemned the attack said that the incident had been reported to the police division in the locality.
The state police spokesman, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached to comment on the incident as at the time of filling this report.
The kidnap of the district head is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at traditional rulers and the clergymen in the state.