Two wives and three children of Justice Sani Muhammed, the traditional ruler of Mutumbiyu Chiefdom in Taraba State have been found dead.
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers had earlier stormed the monarch’s residence in Jalingo on January 19, 2023 and whisked away several hostages including the monarch’s family.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Abdullahi Usman, who confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, February 4, said one of the children escaped and is currently receiving medical care in an undisclosed hospital.
According to the PPRO, the victims’ bodies were found in Daka village, a neighbourhood of the Bali Local Government Area in the early hours of Saturday.
The monarch also confirmed the brutal killing of his wives and children to journalists, adding that they would be buried at Mutumbiyu.
“The bodies of the members of my family killed by the kidnappers were found and will be brought to Mutumbiyu for burial.” he said.
Two weeks ago, he stated that at his residence in Jalingo, eight of his family members were kidnapped by unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The monarch explained that among the eight kidnapped, a 14-year-old boy escaped from the kidnappers den two days ago and was taken to the palace
Lois Emmanuel, the state commissioner for information and reorientation, issued a press release in which he strongly denounced the murder and called it barbaric, ungodly, and inhuman.
The government offered its condolences to the traditional ruler and the citizens of the Mutum-Biyu Chiefdom for the unfortunate incident and prayed to God to grant the deceased souls rest and the families the strength to endure the irreparable losses.
