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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen, suspected to be hired assassins, have reportedly murdered a prominent Idoma politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ejeh Udeh, in cold blood.
Our correspondent gathered that the chieftain was murdered at his residence in Ondo Ugboju, in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, at about 11 pm Sunday.
It was gathered that the assailants, who rode on motorcycles, laid an ambush and opened fire on him as soon as he entered his compound, killing him on the spot.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Maxwell Ogiri, has confirmed the incident.
Ogiri, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone on Monday, said, “Yes, Hon Ejeh Udeh was murdered. We don’t know the reasons for his murder, whether remote or immediate. But we can only say that his murderers were determined.
“They followed him to his house after he came back from a hangout with some friends and associates. He entered his house alone, parked his car and went to his house and they began to fire from a distance, got closer to him and then finished him up.”
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The Chairman said he has visited the scene of the incident. “I went to the scene in company of the DSS boss and other heads of security agencies and they promised to expand their dragnets to ensure arrest of the perpetrators.
“But the gruesome murder of Ejeh has cast a dark shadow in our community because he is a well-known figure, a community leader, an opinion moulder and also a chieftain of the APC in Otukpo LG.
“Like it’s always said, a soul killed in cold blood is more painful than tens killed in a pogrom. This is one of such deaths. This killing took place in Ondo in Ugboju, Otukpo LG. The assailant came at about 11pm and it was raining seriously at that time.
“People were indoors. It was the sound of gun shots that attracted people. They chose a perfect time to carry out their dastardly act.”
He expressed confidence that the security operatives would do their best and bring perpetrators to book.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the morgue in Otukpo.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet could not be reached at the time of this report.
