Gunmen Kill Military Officer in Benue

Some unknown gunmen killed a military officer, who was on transit on Sunday along the Katsina-Ala-Takum Expressway within Benue State.

Sources told Punch that the military officer, who was coming from Lagos and travelling to Takum in Taraba State, was killed at Sattii Agrigi along the Katsina-Ala-Takum Expressway.

It was learnt that some soldiers stormed Katsina Ala town on Monday to retaliate and allegedly burnt some houses in the town.

A source who is a resident of the area said, “As I am talking to you now, Katsina Ala is in ruins as soldiers invaded our town in reprisal for the killing of the colonel.

“The Katsina-Ala-Takum Expressway has been blocked as soldiers have been demanding that we produce the killers of the army officer.”

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, confirmed the incident, saying it was an armed robbery incident.

Ortom also denied the invasion and burning down of houses in Katsina Ala, saying if anything of such happened, it was the handiwork of miscreants.

Ortom said, “I was told of the killing of a colonel in Katsina-Ala. He was in uniform and coming from Lagos towards Tarkum.’

“The killing created a crisis in the area; we were told that the military men went after the perpetrators. The case is being treated as an armed robbery case.”

The governor urged residents of the area to go about their business without fear, adding that he had sent his security adviser and the state security chiefs to the area.

However, efforts by journalists to get the response of the Assistant Director, Army Information, 707 Special Force Makurdi, Major Olabisi Ayeni proved abortive.