The District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Saf Samuel Alaket, has been killed by gunmen in an ambush.
The incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday near the Sha-Daffo boundary in Bokkos LGA.
Sources in the community said the traditional ruler was returning home from the popular Tuesday market in Daffo when the attackers intercepted his vehicle and opened fire.
It was learnt that Alaket had earlier attended a traditional council meeting in Bokkos before embarking on the journey.
Eyewitnesses said the monarch sustained severe gunshot injuries during the attack and was rushed to a nearby medical facility, where he later died.
A resident of the area, Aten Pukat, confirmed the incident, describing the late district head as a respected traditional ruler who was committed to promoting peace and development in his community.
“The death of Saf Samuel Alaket is a huge loss to Gwande and the entire Bokkos area. He was widely respected for his dedication to peace and community development,” Pukat said.
According to him, the killing has thrown the Bokkos Traditional Council and residents of the area into mourning, with condolences pouring in from traditional rulers, community leaders and sympathisers.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as calls made to the command’s spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
