Gunmen Kill Traditional Ruler, Nephew in Kaduna

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Tension is said to be building up in Karshi, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State following the murder of the District Head, Bala Madaki, and his nephew, Emmanuel Tanko, last Sunday by unknown gunmen.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 10:30p.m. that fateful day when the gunmen, suspected to be Fulani, stormed his residence and opened fire.

Madaki, 66, and his nephew, who was said to be writing his final year secondary school examinations before the incident, died on the spot from gunshot wounds.

A clergyman in the area, Pastor Mike Makarfi, said in a telephone interview that the incident took place around 10:30p.m. last Sunday.

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

“They went into his room and shot him point blank. They also shot a young boy, Emmanuel Tanko, who was writing his final year secondary school examinations. 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 indoors or are leaving the town.

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

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, said he was expecting the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Karshi to brief him with details of the incident.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the killings, saying investigations were on to fish out the perpetrators.

The governor, in a statement by his Spokesman, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, commiserated with the family of the victims and appealed to the people of the area to remain calm and support the security agencies to investigate the attack and apprehend the perpetrators.