Banditry: Gunmen Break Into Palace, Abduct Plateau Monarch

Over 20 bandits have kidnapped a traditional ruler in Plateau State after they launched an attack on the palace in Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

Reports reveal that His Royal Highness, Aminu Derwan, was whisked away after scaring residents with gunshots in the early hours of Monday.

Moses Garuba, a resident of Panyam community, confirmed the abduction to Punch, saying: "It was last night around midnight that the bandits, who were more than 20 and heavily armed, surrounded the district head’s palace in Panyam.

"Because his house was not fenced, some villagers who saw how his house was surrounded by strange people alerted other members of the community through a community bell.

"But immediately the bandits heard the bell, they started firing gunshots and eventually went away with the traditional ruler, leaving the community helpless.”

Other residents revealed that the development has been reported to the police division in the locality.

The spokesman for state police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached when contacted on the incident as his phones were switched off.