Gunmen kidnaps another Plateau paramount ruler

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped Diket Gupiya, the paramount ruler of Pushit District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Pushit District is said to be the country home of the state’s deputy governor, Sonny Tyoden.

Gupiya’s abduction is coming barely two months after Charles Mato, the Sum Pyem, and paramount ruler in the neighbouring Gindiri District was kidnapped and later released after ransom was reportedly paid.

Some residents, who confirmed the latest kidnap incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday, said that the monarch was abducted at his palace in Pushit on Thursday night.

According to them, the district head was in his palace watching television around 9:00 pm when the gunmen attacked his house and took him away.

One of the residents, Philip Moses, said, “The unfortunate has befallen us again. Chief Diket Gupiya, our district head in Pushit was kidnapped on Thursday night.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, Ubah Ogaba, said that the command was aware of the incident and had deployed some operatives “for a possible rescue of the traditional ruler”.