The police in Taraba State have confirmed the murder of a third-class chief of Chanchanji in Takum local government area, Tanimu Kumbiya and his son, Yussuf Kumbiya, by gunmen.
They were killed on Friday by gunmen on motorcycles along Takum-Wukari road at about 3:00 p.m. while returning from a burial ceremony in Takum, in the midst of two of his civil defence aides.
An eyewitness who refused to give his name for security reasons told our correspondent that the gunmen ambushed the monarch.
“Two persons were stationed after Amadu village, though they were there as if they were passengers waiting for a commercial vehicle, we were on our farm working, a few hours later, the chief was coming with only one vehicle, some people came from the bush and joined the two. We became apprehensive and suspicious because of insecurity within this area, they rode on four motorcycles.
“As soon as the motor came, they opened fire on the chief’s vehicle. We had no option than to run away from the farm, having seen that the security aides could not rescue the men.
“We are living in our villages here in perpetual fear, the boys have been operating with arms freely, we are begging the government to come and flush out the armed gangs that have enslaved us, that we cannot live and sleep in peace any longer,” he stated.
Chairman of Takum local government council, Hon. John Ali, while commenting on the incident, said the area was calm. “We are talking to the people, by the grace of God, there will be no security breach over the incident,” Ali said.
The state police command spokesman, Gambo Kwache, said they had deployed personnel to the area to avert any outbreak of law and order as a result of the incident.
“We got the report that the third class chief of Chanchanji and his son were killed in an ambush in Jakudi village,” he said.