Plateau State district head Saf Samuel Alaket has been killed in an ambush while returning from a council meeting, sparking grief and tension in the community.
Details of the Attack
The District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Saf Samuel Alaket, was assassinated by suspected gunmen in an ambush along the Sha District axis near Daffo community. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday as the traditional ruler was heading home after attending a traditional council meeting in Bokkos.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers laid an ambush near the boundary between Sha District and Daffo, targeting the monarch's vehicle close to his hometown.
Community Mourns Respected Leader
Residents confirmed that the district head sustained serious injuries during the attack and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment, but he later succumbed to his wounds.
A community member, Mr. Aten Pukat, described the killing as a devastating loss to Gwande and the wider Bokkos area. “The death of the traditional ruler is a painful loss to the people of Gwande and the entire Bokkos community,” Pukat said.
The attack has thrown the Bokkos Traditional Council and surrounding communities into mourning, with residents expressing shock over the incident.
Tension in Community as Police Remain Silent
Youth leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, confirmed that the incident caused tension in the area but said calm had since been restored. “Everybody was initially tensed, but we have been able to calm the situation and normalcy has returned,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the attack, despite efforts to reach its spokesperson, SP Alfred Alabo.
Security concerns have continued to grow in parts of Plateau State, where communities have experienced repeated violent incidents in recent months.
