Suspected armed robbers have shot dead Sargwak Wazhi, a former
commissioner who served in the administration of Jonah Jang in Plateau
State.
The armed persons also injured the victim’s driver and whisked away a
serving transition council chairman of Langtang South Local Government
Area, Nicholas Vongsing.
A witness told reporters on Friday that the incident occurred Thursday night along Mangu Barkinladi road.
Our source, a senior staff of Langtang South Local Government pleaded
not to be named because was not authorised to speak on the incident.
He, however, explained via telephone interview that the suspected
robbers opened fire on the vehicle of the former commissioner, which had
Mr. Vongsing as one of the passengers.
“The incident occurred last night (Thursday) at about 7:45 p.m. along
Mangu/Barkinladi bypass. Honourable Nicholas Vongsing, our council
chairman, was in the car with Honourable Sargwak Wazhi.
“The robbers shot at the car, killed Hon Sargwak Wazhi; his driver
was also shot, but he didn’t die. When we arrived the scene, we didn’t
see Honourable Nicholas Vongsing, the robbers had left with him.”
Our source explained further that “both Sargwak Wazhi and his driver
were taken to the General hospital in Mangu, where he was confirmed
dead.”
“This morning, the driver have been referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, for more medical attention.
“But, for Nicholas Vongsing, till now that I’m taking with you, none of us has heard from him, all of us are worried.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police in Plateau
State, Terna Tyopev, said the command had not been briefed on the
development, but would investigate it.
The victims were said to be returning from an official function held
at the southern zone of the state, where more than 30 communities from
six council areas agreed to end years of hostilities, which led to the
death of hundreds of people and destroyed property worth millions.
The reconciliatory meeting attended by Governor Simon Lalong was
organised by the Geneva, Switzerland-based Centre for Humanitarian
Dialogue, HD.