Gunmen kidnap South Kaduna monarch, Yohanna Kukah

Violence is yet to abate in Southern Kaduna as a prominent traditional ruler in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Chief Yohannah Kukah, was yesterday kidnapped by gunmen.

The monarch is a younger brother to the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah.

It was learnt that the kidnappers stormed Anchuna, the village of the traditional ruler, and whisked him away. An eyewitness said the hoodlums had arrived at his private residence around 9:00p.m. on Tuesday night. “After shooting sporadically, they ordered him to come out.”

One of his guards, who attempted to foil the attack, was kidnapped along with the royal father.

A community leader, Waziri Ashafa, who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen whisked away the monarch and his guard. The Kaduna Police Command spokesman, Mukhtar Aliyu, also confirmed the kidnap and said security personnel were on the trail of the kidnappers.

The kidnap yesterday came on the heels of the murder of a royal father and his wife in Southern Kaduna a few days ago.

The Senator representing Kaduna Central District in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, condemned the kidnap, saying: “My heart goes out to Kukah, his family and relations in their trying moments. I call on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue him.”