The Military and Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the disappearance of some community leaders in Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the leaders went missing after a dispute-resolution meeting, on Sunday, during which financial compensation was made for destruction of crops by cattle under the watch of a herder, as reported to the State Government by security agencies.
Aruwan further stated that the Secretary to the District Head of Gora, Ayuba Bungon, and others, who attended the successful meeting, went missing while traveling in his vehicle.
The car was later found vandalized and empty.
He said troops on search-and-rescue missions, later that night, found the Secretary, and handed him over safely to the Police.
Aruwan said some arms and ammunition were also recovered in the general area in the course of search and rescue.
He said two other leaders Yusuf Dauda and Gomna Audu who went missing were reported to have escaped from their captors on Monday and were also found by troops conducting search operations.
Aruwan said the two, according to the military, were confirmed to be in a good state of health and handed over to the Police.
He said three community leaders Ardo Pate Usman Kurmi (Wakilin Fulanin Atyap Chiefdom), Ardo Muhammadu Anchau and Yakubu Muhammadu, were still missing.
Aruwan said Governor Nasir el-Rufai noted the feedback with gratitude and urged the troops to sustain the pace of operations.
The governor also made an appeal to the Atyap Chiefdom, as well as families and relations of the missing leaders to remain calm, as security agencies continued with investigations and search-and-rescue operations.
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