Nigerian traditional ruler shot dead at palace

Gunmen on Thursday night shot dead Alhaji Abdulmutalib Jankada, traditional ruler of Sansani chiefdom in Gassol local government area of Taraba state.

According to Daily Trust, the assailants who rode into Sansani town on motorcycles, sneaked into the palace to gun down their target.

The gunmen went straight to a room where the Monarch was sitting and shot him severally, seizing his phones afterwards.

It was learnt that the monarch died on the spot, while the attack took palace guards and family members unaware.

A source said:

“The late chief told us Yesterday that he was traveling to Ibbi for Nwonyo fishing Festival which is 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.

He said the gunmen silently left the town after killing the monarch and it was his wife who found him dead inside his room that 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 abducted along Jalingo-Wukari road two years ago and ransom was paid before his release.