Sen. Joshua Dariye has described Mr Lazarus Agai, the Saf Ron-Kulere and First Class tradtional ruler of Bokkos in Plateau, who was killed on Monday, as a “rallying point”.
“The killing of the Saf Ron-Kulere is particularly painful because he was a rallying point for us in Bokkos; I find the development very unbelievable,” Dariye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos.
NAN reports that the 76-year-old monarch was killed by assassins who attacked his vehicle while on his way to Bokkos, after visiting his farm in Sha district of the area.
Also killed along with Agai were his police orderly, Insp. Sunday Wuyah, the monarch’s wife, as well as his son, Shagari.
Dariye, a kinsman of the monarch, who reacted to the death of the ruler in a telephone interview, described the attack as “very unfortunate”.
“It is a trying moment for us in Bokkos; it was not long ago that two of our traditional rulers in Forop and Manguna were killed in similar circumstances.
“The incident has thrown the entire Bokkos Local Government Area into mourning because this is one of our darkest periods in history.
“Our prayer is that God should expose the killers and bring an end to this circle of killings,” he said.
He wondered why people should take up arms against innocent people, especially someone as peaceful as the late monarch, and called for dialogue to resolve whatever human disagreement existing between and among people.
“Chief Agai was a very principled man; his word was his bond. It is a very painful death and we shall surely missed him,” he said.
He also cautioned Bokkos youths against taking the law into their hands, saying that they should rather help the security agencies to unravel those behind the serial murders.
Dariye prayed for the repose of the departed souls, and also begged God to console the survivors. (NAN)