Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed the Chairman of Lere Local Government branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Kaduna State, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Damba.

The Fulani community leader popularly known as Dambardi, was killed in the early hours of Friday, September 17, in his village, Lere.

The State Chairman of the association, Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, who confirmed the incident in a press release said the gunmen stormed the residence of the deceased at about 2am and brought him out.

According to Tugga, the kidnappers demanded N20m naira but he told them that he does not have such an amount.

The bandits insisted that he must raise the money or they would kill him. The deceased took them to some butchers who raised only N250,000 for him.

Angered by his failure to raise the N20 million as they demanded, the bandits immediately took him away and shot him dead.

“They took him along Saminaka, Mari, Zango Highway and killed him there,” Tugga said.

He appealed to Kaduna State government and the Security Agencies to investigate and fish out the culprits with immediate effect.

The State Chairman described the deceased as an ambassador of peace and tranquillity among the people of Lere Local Government and beyond.

“We have really a lost a leader of high respect who has been assisting the association in promoting harmony and coexistence among members. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Kaduna State condoled the family, members and friends of late Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Dambardi and prayed Allah to grant him paradise and also give the family the fortitude to bear the loss, the statement concluded.

The Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the killing in a statement on Friday evening September 17.

“According to the brief, Alhaji Abdullahi was abducted by unknown gunmen who invaded his home in Lere in the early hours of Friday, and was shot dead by his captors along a highway shortly after,” the statement say.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness at the report of the killing Alhaji Abdullahi, and sent his commiserations to the family of the deceased, while praying for the repose of his soul. The Kaduna State Government awaits detailed reports of the incident from security agencies at this time.”