Sultan defends herdsmen over Plateau traditional ruler murder. – A top traditional rulerhad been killed in Plateau state earlier this week
– Fulani herdsmen in the ares were immediately accused of the killing
– The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, asked not to jump to conlusions so fast
Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has commented on the killing of a top traditional ruler in Plateau state on Monday, July 18.
The Saf Ron Kulere, Chief Lazarus Agai, was coming back home from his farm when unknown gunmen opened fire on him, his wife and security aide. All three died of their injuries.
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Next day after the attack youth groups blocked roads and reportedly destroyed several buildings in the area. Locals immediately accused Fulanu herdsmen living in the neighbourhood.
They are convinced that the traditional ruler was killed for his opposition to the state government’s plan to create grazing reserves in the area.
However, Sa’ad Abubakar, who visited Plateau state on Wednesday, didn’t support the suspicions and asked the journalists to refrain from unwarranted conclusions until the investigation is over.
He said: “Journalists who reported the incident just jump into conclusion and said it was herdsmen who killed the traditional ruler, the Saf Ron Kulere, without waiting for investigations from security agencies to provide details on the incidents, that is not fair.”
The sultan, who visited in Jos for a two-day meeting of northern traditional council of chiefs to discuss primary healthcare in the region, called on security agents to find and prosecute the criminals.
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“People should not take laws into their hands, whoever is a bad element in any community should be exposed. We are enjoying peace on the Plateau now, we should maintain the peace, let’s go back to the old days of peaceful coexistence, religious harmony, by so doing we should respect one another, our unity is of paramount importance,” he added.
He delivered his speech at the palace of the Gbong Gwom Jos, Gyang Buba, while expressing condolence to the paramount ruler over the death of the Saf Ron Kulere.
Meanwhile, Plateau state governor Simon Lalong has strongly condemned the killing of Lazarus Agai and pledged to work with security agencies to ensure that the killers were found and brought to justice.