Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in the early minutes of the new year gunned down the Chief of Numana Chiefdom and his wife in Arak, his village in Sanga local government area in the Southern part of Kaduna State.
The traditional ruler, Etum Numana II, Dr. Gambo Makama and his wife were said to be in their living room just after midnight when the gunmen wearing mask storm the compound, burst into the living room and shot the Chief and his wife at a close range.
The 45 years old son of the Chief who was also in the house was shot at but escaped with gun shot wounds and now battling with his life at an undisclosed hospital in the area.
The assailants also burn down the house and car of the Chief before escaping into the bush.
The incident took place at about 12:07 in the early minutes of Monday, the new year.
The information officer of Sanga LGA, Mr. John Bawa told newsmen from his base in Gwantu, that ” the Etum Numana Dr. Gambo Makama alongside his second wife were killed in an attack on his village, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
“The suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community this morning, killing our Chief, his wife and burning down his house at the village,” he said.
This attack was the third since 24th December 2017 in the Southern part of Kaduna State leaving about 13 persons dead, scores injured and properties in millions destroyed in Jema’a and Sanga local government areas.
Confirming the incident, Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu said, the command received a distress call from Gwantu community at about 4am and dispatched men to the area immediately.
He said “I can confirm to you that the report was true. We got the distress call at about 4am and we immediately dispatched our men to the area. As at the time our men got there, the assailants have fled the scene.
“But we have commenced investigations into the killing and I will keep you posted when there is a new development about the unfortunate incident.
“We have evacuated the corpses of the man and his wife to Gwantu General hospital while his injured son is responding to treatment in the hospital.” He said
Speaking on phone from Gwantu, Chairman of Sanga Development Area, Prince Bala Audu, said the chief and his wife went to the village to celebrate the new year when the deadly attack took place.
“He was seated with his second wife who is pregnant, then suddenly gunmen which I was told covered their faces with masks invaded the house and opened fire at them, alongside his son who is about 45 years.
“The chief and his wife died on the spot, the son who sustained serious injuries was rushed to the hospital.
“The gunmen also set the house ablaze and burnt a vehicle which was recently given to the chief as a gift”. He said.
