Gunmen on Rampage in Benue, Kill 24 on Eid-el-Fitri Day
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George Okoh in Makurdi
Gunmen Friday killed over 24 persons, including a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart and elder statesman, Chief Atoza Ihindan, in Katsina/Ala local government area of the state.
This is as another set of gunmen killed a family of three when they attacked and killed one Mr Ternongo Ajai, his wife Rebecca, one Iyormanger Nwana and another relation, Ujah all of Gbengen village, in Utange council ward of Katsina/Ala local government area.
According to a source, three armed men riding on a motorbike, ambushed Chief Ihindan at his construction site in Katsina/Ala town on Friday morning around 10am and was shoot repeatedly.
"They stormed the place in a commando style, though, the old man had with him, his aide and a police escort who after noticing the armed men, made desperate effort to defend Chief, but he was overpowered by the well armed men who had superior fire power.
"They succeeded in killing the old man after shooting his police escort who was seriously injured and in critical condition at a public hospital in Katsina/Ala at the moment.
"After successfully executing their assignment, the gang fled and the suspicion is that it was that same gang or members of the same group of bandits that raided a beer parlour at a market square in Tor Donga, last night, where 12 persons including a woman attendant and her one year old baby were killed.
"After raiding and killing their victims at the drinking spot, the gang sped off on their motorbike and continued shooting indiscriminately at any human being they came across, or anyone that dared to stop them and that led to the killing of another seven persons including a teacher in one of the local schools in the community", the source said.
The source who said the killings were recorded in the last 48 hours stressed further that Katsina/Ala local government was like a town under siege where residents now live in fear.
When asked who could be responsible for the bloodbath in the area, the source said "no one is sure of anything now, because so much rumours and stories are flying but we expect the Police to unravel the mystery and stop these unending killings in Katsina/Ala before everyone resort to self help.
"The way we are going anarchy is looming, the killing of Chief Ihindan is one too many, we also recall that a top Police Officer from the Force Headquarters who was a member of the Task Force on Kidnapping and cow rustling, on a special mission to the state was also killed here few weeks back by unknown armed men".
"As I speak with you, there is palpable tension in the whole of Katsina/Ala and other neighbouring towns and communities over the killing of Chief Ihindan and if something is not done very fast this might snowball into a major bloodbath.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austin Ezeani confirmed the killing of the septuagenarian.
Ezeani said he was killed under a tree while inspecting the fencing of his plot of land with his aide and police orderly when unidentified men on a motorbike shot him.
He said the policeman shot back but it was late as the gunmen escaped adding that deceased died on the spot and his body had since been deposited at undisclosed hospital.
Ezeala said the command recorded the killing of a man and woman in Tor Donga explaining that a manhunt for the masterminds of the killings had commenced.
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