UPDATED: Traditional ruler, nephew murdered in Kaduna

Gunmen on Sunday night killed Bala Madaki, district head of Fadan Karshi in Numana chiefdom of Sanga local government area of Kaduna.

Madaki was killed alongside his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, at his residence in Fadan Karshi.

Mike Makarfi, a community leader from the area, told The Cable that the incident happened around 10:30pm.

Makarfi said the assailants struck after the deceased had just entered his house after relaxing outside as a result of “unbearable heat”.

“Some gunmen who our people said were Fulani, stormed his compound and started shooting,” he said.

“They went into his room and shot him point blank. They also shot a small boy, Emmanuel Tanko,  who was writing his final year secondary school exams. The boy was the nephew of the late chief.

“Right now Fadan Karshi is deserted. Shops and service centres are shut. People are either staying in-doors or are leaving the town.

“No one knows what is coming next, policemen are patrolling the streets, but I am not sure if they have any clue about the murderers.

“I want you to recall that this was the district head that received former Governor Mukhtar Yero on the September 22nd, 2014 when our women protested half naked because of the scale of killings by Fulani going on at that time.

“Today, the type of killings going on are murdering of isolated people. Cattle are also grazing freely on peoples farm in these areas of Sanga and people are afraid to do anything about it.

“Now they are targeting people and eliminating them.”

when contacted, Zubairu Abubakar, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command,  confirmed the incident, saying he was expecting  the Divisional Police Office (DPO) in Karshi to furnish him with details.

“I am aware of the incident but I don’t have the details yet. When I do, I will surely give you,” he said.

‎Meanwhile, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, has condemned the killings, suing for calm.

In a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, he commiserated  with the family of the victims and urged the people of the area  to support security agencies to investigate the attack and apprehend the perpetrators of the murders.

‎The governor assured that security agencies were investigating the attack and working hard to apprehend the culprits.