December 31, (THEWILL) – The Paramount Ruler of Pyem Chiefdom, Plateau State, Charles Mato Dakat has regained freedom one week after he was abducted by gunmen.
The Media Officer, Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Plateau State, Maj. Ishaku Takwa confirmed the development in a statement on Friday in Jos.
Dakat was abducted from his Palace on Sunday morning by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
THEWILL reports that the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Rukuba who doubles as Commander of the Special Task Force, OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, had told officials of Correspondents Chapel of Plateau Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists on Wednesday, that the abductors of the paramount ruler, have demanded N50million ransom.
Although, there is no details on the payment of any ransom yet, but Takwa said that troops were immediately dispatched to the area and surrounding communities for search and rescue operation following his abduction.
“While the traditional ruler has been with his abductors, the commander OPSH, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, placed the troops deployed at Gyanbus on red alert and hot trail of the perpetrators.
“Consequently, eight suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap incident and are being interrogated.
“Following this development, the paramount ruler has been released in the early hours of Friday Dec. 31.
“Meanwhile we will ensure all those involved in the kidnap of the traditional ruler are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law”, Takwa said.
Mato is the Sum Pyem and Paramount Ruler of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau.
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