Gunmen kidnap another Plateau monarch

Following the kidnapping of a traditional ruler, Diket Gupiya, by gunmen, tension has risen to the Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau State.

Gupiya is the paramount ruler of Pushit District, which is home to Sonny Tyoden, the state vice governor.

Gupiya’s kidnapping comes just two months after Charles Mato, the Sum Pyem and paramount ruler in the neighbouring Gindiri District, was kidnapped and freed after a rumored ransom was paid.

According to locals in Jos who verified the latest kidnapping incidence to newsmen on Friday, the king was kidnapped on Thursday night at his palace in Pushit.

According to them, the district head was in his palace watching television around 9pm when the gunmen attacked his house and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

One of the residents, Philip Moses, said, “The unfortunate has befallen us again. Chief Diket Gupiya, our district head in Pushit was kidnapped on Thursday night.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, Ubah Ogaba, said that the command was aware of the incident and had deployed some operatives “for a possible rescue of the traditional ruler “.