Curfew as herdsmen kill Plateau monarch, driver, police orderly

A first class traditional ruler in Plateau State, the Saf Ron Kulere,
Sir Lazarus Agai, who is also the Chairman of Bokkos Traditional
Council, was on Monday murdered in his home village, Sha, by
suspected Fulani herdsmen.
He was the traditional ruler of Bokkos, the hometown of the former
governor of the state, Chief Joshua Dariye.
The traditional ruler was killed when he was coming back from his farm in Sha.
He was killed alongside his driver and police orderly.
Details of the incidents were sketchy as of the time of filing this
report but his death was confirmed by the member representing Bokkos
Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Sunday Muchen.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Assistant
Superintendent of Police Tyopev Terna, who also confirmed the
incident, said that no one had been arrested in connection with the
killing.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, has
declared a curfew in Bokkos in connection with the killing of the
monarch and his aides.
A statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the
governor, Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, on Monday, a preliminary security report
before the governor had confirmed the attack.
The statement read, "The incidence took place at about 3pm yesterday
(Monday) while the chief was on transit from a neighbouring village.
"The governor has therefore summoned an emergency meeting of security
agencies tomorrow (Tuesday) so as to come up with strategies to
prevent reprisals from aggrieved groups.
"To avert any breakdown of law and order, the government has decided
to impose a curfew on the area."
Meanwhile, officers of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army
in Bauchi State on Saturday killed two suspected kidnappers in a
forest in Dutsen Zaki village, in Ningi Local Government Area of the
state.
The officers attached to the Sector 2, located in Burra town of Ningi
LGA, also captured two of the bandits alive and recovered various
weapons.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 33 Artillery Brigade,
Major Joseph Afolasade, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on
Sunday at the Shadawanka Army Barracks, Bauchi.
He stated that the development followed series of clearing operations
embarked upon by the soldiers to flush out all remnants of criminals
that had been terrorising villages in the area, especially Kanawa,
Rugan Abdulsalami, Diwa and Dutsen Zaki hamlets.
According to Afolasade, the soldiers who were on patrol succeeded in
killing the hoodlums at the Dutsen Zaki Forest and arrested the
wounded ones after a fierce gun battle with the armed kidnappers which
lasted over one and half hours.
He said that there was no casualty on the side of his officers.
The Army spokesman said, "At the end, our gallant troops overpowered
the bandits and succeeded in killing two of the kidnappers and
captured two of the bandits alive.
" We also recovered five AK 47 riffles, three rounds of 7.62 mm
ammunitions, four Bajaj motorcycles, foodstuffs and clothing,'' he
said.
He further stated that such operations were ongoing across the state
and the 33 Artillery Brigade's areas of operation, which include
Yanakari Forest in Alkaleri, Lame Forest in Toro and Buzun Forest in
Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
Source~PUNCH