The traditional ruler of Daffo community in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Da Jatau Yohanna Samkwar, has been killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias who attacked his residence in the village.
According to a youth leader in the community, Malo Stephen, the gunmen attacked the residence of the monarch, who was the Mishkaham Bokkos, on Monday night, shooting him in the leg and head. He was rushed to a hospital in Daffo for treatment but died on Wednesday.
Stephen, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday, said the gunmen had stormed the traditional ruler’s residence on the night of the attack and fired sporadically before gaining entrance into the compound, where they shot him.
“The gunmen, who were Fulani people, came to the house of Da Jatau Yohanna Samkwar on Monday night and shot him in the leg and head. He was rushed to a hospital in Daffo, but he was later referred to another hospital. Unfortunately, he died,” the youth leader said.
He also revealed that one of the traditional ruler’s sons had been kidnapped earlier but was released on Sunday, before the attackers returned to the residence and shot his father.
“These attacks are becoming too many in Bokkos. Almost every day, somebody is killed or something happens. The situation is becoming normalised to the extent that people no longer report every incident because they have become used to hearing about killings,” Stephen lamented.
He decried the repeated attacks and killings, saying residents were living under siege and that the situation had become a source of concern in the local government area. He called on security agencies to step up their efforts to address the ongoing security challenges.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos Local Government Area, Kefas Mallai, who also confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday, expressed concern over the prevailing security situation in the area.
Mallai said the community was increasingly worried about the recurring attacks.
The community leader also disclosed that three people were reportedly attacked while travelling on a motorcycle along a road linking communities in the area. Two of them were allegedly killed, while the third sustained injuries.
