The District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Saf Samuel Alaket, has been killed by gunmen in an ambush attack along the Sha District axis near the border with the Daffo community.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday while the traditional ruler was returning to his community after attending activities at the popular Tuesday market in Daffo.
Reports indicated that the monarch had earlier participated in a traditional council meeting in Bokkos before setting out for Gwande.
According to residents, the attackers laid an ambush near the boundary between Sha District and Daffo and targeted the vehicle conveying the district head.
The traditional ruler was said to have sustained serious injuries during the attack and was rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment. However, he later died despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.
A community member, Aten Pukat, confirmed the incident and described the killing as a major loss to the people of Gwande and the wider Bokkos community.
He said the attack had thrown residents and members of the traditional council into mourning, noting that the late district head was widely respected for his commitment to peace and community development.
Pukat added that condolences had continued to pour in from traditional institutions, community leaders and sympathisers following the tragic incident.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
