Community leader killed in Benue

GUNMENTWO people suspected to be hired assassins, on Saturday, killed a community leader, Godwin Gbajur,  in Katsina Ala area of Benue State.

Our correspondent gathered that the killers had, in the early hours of the day, invaded the victim’s house, and shot him dead in the presence of his family members.

A statement by the state police command read: “The Benue Police command wish to report that at about 0648hrs, one Godwin Gbajur (Katsina-Ala Township Leader a.k.a. Tor Gari) was assassinated in his GRA residence at the outskirts of Katsina-Ala LGA by two armed bandits.

“Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assassins rode on two motorcycles to the house of the victim and inquired from him if he was Godwin, which he answered in the affirmative, before he was eventually shot dead.”

The PPRO, who confirmed the incident, said preliminary investigation revealed that the assassins were gang  members of the most wanted criminal in the state, Terwase Akwaza a.k.a. Gana.

He added that eight empty shells of AK-47 ammunition were recovered at the scene and promised that efforts were  ongoing to ensure that the bandits were arrested and brought to justice.

ALSO READ: Boko-Haram suspect: The law will take its course ―Ortom’s CPS

In another development, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Reverend Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche, on Saturday, said Christians would no longer tolerate killings of their members in any part of the country.

He called on the Federal Government to halt the killings in Benue State and other parts of the country.

He stated this on Saturday, when he led leaders of the church across the country to Benue State, with relief materials worth millions of naira to the displaced persons in the state.

While describing the unabated killings in Benue and other parts of the country as the height of irresponsibility, he said any government that could not protect the lives and property of its citizens had no business to remaining in power.

He threw his weight behind anti-open grazing law enacted by the Benue State government, which he said  was in line with global best practices in modern animal husbandry.

Responding, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Benson Abounu, said nothing would stop the anti-open grazing law, stating that ranching remained the best solution.