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Police on Wednesday confirmed that gunmen killed the secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Musa Ille and other twenty-six residents of Benue State in fresh attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, Catherine Anene, who confirmed the attack, said that the State's Commissioner of Police had gone on an assessment tour of the area.
A resident of the area, Iliyasu Samaila, said the PDP Secretary was returning from night prayer (Ishai) when the gunmen entered his house and shot him dead.
According to Samaila, the deceased was among the people of the town at the forefront of the fight against banditry.
Samaila said, “The late Ille was among the people of the town who were always trying their best to end banditry.
He was always ready to sacrifice his life in the fight against banditry as such, the bandits were not comfortable with him.
“They had been targeting him without success until last night when they shot him in his residence. We lost a brave person and a true lover of his community.”
Also, bandits have killed about 26 people in renewed attacks on three different communities in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
Among those killed were six personnel of the state security outfits known as ‘Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, who were deployed to mount security guard for a family who had gone to bury their loved one.
The attacks, according to locals, happened between Monday and Tuesday in the Mbakunwande, and Jaora communities and along the Naka-Adoka road.
In the attack, six operatives of State Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards were reportedly killed, and 20 people were also killed.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Gwer West LGA, Henry Agba, said 26 people were killed and several others injured.
He said, “The attack started on Monday, six security operatives of the state, comprising Benue Security Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, were killed.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on External Affairs, Col. Alexis Ashungu (retd.), confirmed the incident, saying the investigation is ongoing.
