Outrage over killing of first class traditional ruler

As security agencies intensify the search for the killers of Mr Lazarus Agaie, the First Class traditional ruler of Bokkos in Plateau, more condemnations have trailed the shocking incident.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen killed the 76-year-old Saf Ron-Kulere on Monday on his way to Bokkos, after visiting his farm in Sha District of the area.

Also killed along with the monarch, who had been on the throne for 42 years, were his orderly, Insp. Sunday Wuyah, his wife, and his son, Shagari.

"We have begun investigation into the matter and shall get to its roots. But we have not made arrests as yet,'' Captain Ikedichi Iweha, spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau, told NAN on Tuesday.

Reacting, Rep Tim Golu (PDP, Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke), told NAN that the killing of the traditional ruler was "very scary, sad and unfortunate''.

"I want to condemn in the strongest terms, the brutal and wicked killing of the Saf-Ron-Kulere, the oldest first class paramount ruler in Plateau.

"These killings are becoming more common and the Federal Government must be proactive and beef up security in local communities so as to halt them,'' Golu said.

Also reacting, Sen Jerry Useni (PDP, Plateau South), described the incident as "terrible and wicked''.

"It is a shocking development; I have just been told and do not know the details, but I find this incident particularly painful because the man was a very peaceful ruler,'' he said.

On his part, Rep Solomon Maren (PDP, Bokkos/Mangu), regretted that the monarch was killed by those he had spent much time struggling to protect.

"From what I have gathered, the chief was killed because of his stance on the issue of grazing reserves.

"Throughout his reign, he remained a very principled man and would tell you exactly what he feels about an issue. That was just his offence,'' Maren, who is from the same town with the slain chief, told NAN.

He regretted that such killings had become common in the chiefdom, and recalled that the Village Head of Makayi and the District Head of Manguna were killed in the same circumstances and by gunmen in January.

The lawmaker, however, appealed for calm among the youths of Bokkos, and cautioned them against taking the law into their hands.

"It is a very dark moment in our history as a people, but we must exercise much restraint,'' he said.

Born in 1940, Agaie, a miner, became the District Head of Sha in 1971 and later rose to become the Saf-Ron-kulere in February 1974.