Our correspondent learnt that Gabdo, who is the Ardo of Panyam in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state, was shot dead by his assailants in the locality on Saturday night.
The state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Nuru Abdullahi, confirmed the killing to journalists in Jos on Sunday.
According to Abdullahi, the 70-year-old Fulani chief was attacked by the gunmen while returning from a visit to the District Head of Panyam.
The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comment on the killing.
But the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Artu, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos.
He described the killing as “barbaric and an act of criminality” by enemies of Plateau who are against the peace being enjoyed in the state.
“The entire Mangu Council authority has distanced itself from the incident. The people of Mangu have since resolved to live in peace with each other, irrespective of tribe or religion and would not allow anyone to come between them.
“The incident was a deliberate act by hoodlums who are bent on throwing the council area into another round of chaos at a time when relative peace has been achieved and the people are returning to their ancestral homes due to many efforts made by the state government under the leadership of state Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang,” the council chairman stated.
While urging the Fulani herders to remain calm, the MACBAN chairman called on the security agencies to ensure the recovery of Ardo’s corpse.
The PUNCH reports that the killing of the Fulani leader is coming on the heels of a series of attacks by gunmen in the council area which had claimed the lives of over 300 persons in the last three months with several properties destroyed as well.
