The District Head of Panyam in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Adamu Derwam has been kidnapped by suspected bandits.
The gunmen attacked Derwam’s residence at about 1:30am on Monday, shooting sporadically to scare away residents.
A resident of the community, Moses Garuba, told newsmen that the gunmen were about 20 in number.
“It was last past midnight when the gunmen, who were more than 20 and heavily armed, surrounded the district head’s residence 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 terrorists heard the bell, they started shooting and eventually went away with the traditional ruler, leaving the community helpless” He said.
Spokesperson for the State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo who confirmed the incident, said a tactical team of Police, Military, Vigilante and hunters have been deployed to the area to rescue the paramount ruler.
Alabo, who assured that effort is being made to rescue the victim unhurt, asked members of the public to give the police credible information on how to track the perpetrators of the crime.
The kidnap of the district head is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at traditional rulers and the clergymen in the state.
