Gunmen Murder Former Benue Secretary To State Government

Professor David Salifu, a former Benue State Secretary to the  Government, SSG, has been murdered by gunmen.

He was killed in an ambush by the gunmen along the Wukari–Joota Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, a border community between Benue and Taraba states.

The Professor of Public Administration and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Federal University Wukari, was travelling to Makurdi for the burial of his uncle when he encountered the attackers.

It was gathered that the late Salifu sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and was initially rushed to a hospital in Wukari, where doctors removed bullets from his stomach.

He was later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, but succumbed to his injuries at about midnight on Thursday.

His death was confirmed by his former aide,  Ben Ekah.

Ekah stressed that Salifu and his driver were returning to Benue from the Federal University Wukari when they were ambushed.

According to him, the driver’s account revealed that the gunmen stopped their vehicle, dragged the former SSG out and attempted to whisk him away.

“The driver said they were coming from the Federal University Wukari where Professor Salifu lectures when they were waylaid along the Wukari–Joota Road, a border  between Taraba and Benue states.

“The attackers were trying to take him away, and he kept asking them what they wanted. As they continued dragging him, one of them suddenly pulled out a gun and shot him at close range in the stomach.