The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the murder of a third class chief of Chanchanji in Takum local government area, Tanimu Kumbiya and his son, Yussuf Kumbiya by unidentifed gunmen.
The traditional chief and his son were murdered on Friday by gunmen who were riding on motorcycles with arms along Takum-Wukari Road at about 3pm in the afternoon.
Both Kunbiya and his son were gruesomely killed while returning from a burial they attended in Takum amidst two of his security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
An eyewitness who refused to give his name for security reasons, told our correspondent, that the gunmen held the monarch in ambush before he was subsequently murdered.
“Two persons were stationed after Amadu village, though they were there as if they were passengers waiting for a commercial vehicle. We were in our farm working. Few hours later, the chief was coming with only one vehicle and some people came from the bush and joined the other waiting two persons. We became apprehensive and suspicious because of insecurity within this area. The gunmen rode on four motorcycles.
“As soon as the vehicle came, they opened fire on the chief’s vehicle,” the eyewitness said.
He further disclosed that a foreigner handling the construction of the Takum-Wukari Road with his detachment of military personnel were passing at the time but failed to stop and rescue the victims.
“At the time of the incident, there is a white man that is handling the construction of Takum-Wukari Road, he has been attached with heavy security. The white man and his military (Toyota) Hilux were passing and we thought they would stop and save the situation, but they passed and left the chief while he was being shot by the gunmen.
“We also had no option than to run away from the farm seing that the security men could not stop the situation.
“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,” the eyewitness said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Takum local government area, Hon. John Ali said calm has been restored to the area.
“We are talking to the people, by the grace of God, there will be no security outbreak over the incident,” Ali assured.
In the same vein, the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command, Gambo Kwache, while confirming the incident also said that the police have deployed personnel to avert any outbreak of law and order as a result of the incident in the area.
“We got the report that the third class chief of Chanchanji and his son were killed in an ambush in Jakudi village,” he confirmed.
