It’s Unfair To Blame Herdsmen For Killing Of Plateau Traditional Ruler — Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Wednesday condemned the killing of a first class traditional ruler in Plateau State.Gunmen suspected to assassins on Monday attacked and killed Lazarus Agai, the Saf Ron Kurele, while returning to Bokkos from a visit to his farm in Sha District. His wife, son and police orderly were also shot dead by the unknown gunmen.Indigenes of the area blamed the murders on their Fulani neighbours, saying the praramount ruler of Bokkos was killed because of his opposition to the state government’s plan to create grazing reservesin the area.The killings sparked protests in the area on Tuesday as youths blocked roads and reportedly destroyed buildings.

The Sultan, who visited the State on Wednesday, pleaded with the media to stop jumping into conclusion that herdsmen were responsible for the murder.“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”, he said.Mr. Abubakar, however, called on security agents to fish out the killers of the traditional ruler, his wife, son and police orderly.The Sultan, who spoke at the palace of the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers, Gyang Buba, while paying his condolence over the death of the Saf Ron Kulere, also sued for peace among Nigerians.“People should not take laws into their hands,whoever is a bad element in any community should be exposed”, he said.He also said he was in Jos for a two-day meeting of northern traditional council of chiefs to discuss primary healthcare in the region.“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”, the Sultan said.In his response, the The Gbong Gwom Jos described the death of late Saf Ron as unfortunate, and urged security agents to wake up to their task of providing adequate securities to all citizens.