Gunmen in the early hours of Monday abducted District Head of Panyam in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau HRH Adamu Derwam.

The paramount ruler was abducted at his residence in Panyam town by heavily armed gunmen.

A brother to the District Head, who is also a journalist, Friday Derwam, while confirming the incident to reporters in Jos, the state capital said the gunmen stormed the palace around 1:35am and began shooting sporadically before they took the victim to an unknown destination.

Plateau Police Command spokesperson DSP Alfredo Alabo, confirmed the incident.

He said there had been deployment of combined tactical team of Police, Army, vigilante and hunters to the area for rescue of the traditional ruler.

Panyam is the fifth traditional ruler abducted in Plateau State in the last six months.