Five persons, including two policemen, a university lecturer and his two friends, have been reportedly killed by unknown gunmen in Benue State.
It was gathered that three friends Aondoayange Apever, Kachina Shiaondo and a University Don in the Department of Mass Communication, Federal University, Wukari, Mr. Fred Akaakar, were killed by unknown gunmen at Jootar, Mbaterem, in Mbayenge Council Ward in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
It was also said that the two police men were killed by herdsmen at Yelewata in Guma LGA and their guns taken away by their killers.
The Next Edition further gathered that the lecture and the two others were killed when some unknown gunmen stormed the border town, shot and killed them while others escaped narrowly.
Locals from the area told journalists that the spate of killings has not only resurfaced but had also increased in Ukum despite the dusk to dawn curfew and motorcycles ban imposed by the Benue State Security Council on Sankera Axis.
Eye witness said the incident took place around 7:00p.m on Thursday, where the three friends sat at a drinking joint close to a Federal Quarantine Check Point.
He said that while they were all seated, a Bajaj motorcycle came carrying a lady and two guys, while one of them started shooting at their targets and zoomed off.
The source narrated that the motorcycle came from Melabu direction, operated for 10 minutes, killed the victims and left immediately in the same direction.
When asked what could be behind their gruesome murder, the source said “it’s difficult to know at the moment, but we couldn’t sleep throughout the night in Jootar.”
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The source said numerous killings in Mbaterem, has heightened after a strong member of a Church by name Philip of The Narrow Way Tent, was being kidnapped in Channel2 Sankera and was only released after a huge ransom was offered.
The source who noted that they do not witness such before now, lamented that the people are now living in fear for their lives in an area which he said were hitherto peaceful.
They called on the Governor Samuel Ortom and the State Security Council, to come to their aid.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations officer, PPRO, SP Catherine Anene, could not confirm the incident as she said she has not received the information on the killings in Ukum.
She, however, confirmed the killing of two police officers saying “I received information that two policemen died in an operation at Makurdi-Lafia road but I am yet to receive details.”
