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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen in Otukpo area of Benue State have murdered a former Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Udeh Ijachi.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday evening, in front of Okabido Hotel in Otukpo, where the former council boss lodged.
The gunmen, whose identities are yet to be known, allegedly opened fire on him before fleeing the scene.
The shocking development has thrown residents of the area into panic, as people gathered around the scene shortly after the incident.
The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, has confirmed the incident.
Ogiri, who spoke to our correspondent on phone said: “Yes. I got the news. It was in the evening of yesterday, Thursday. It happened in the premises of the hotel where he lodged; he stepped down from his room and the assassin stepped to a close quarters and began to shoot at him. They shot him three times and left immediately.
“It was not yet very late in the day as people were very much in the area. They fired sporadically to disperse people; people scampered for their lives and they took their bike and escaped.”
The chairman also confirmed that a similar incident happened to his immediate younger brother last year. “I wouldn’t know if he had issues with anybody,” he said.
Mr Ogiri condemned the brazen manner in which the former council boss was killed, describing it as shocking, painful and unacceptable.
“That is the position of the council. We pray and urge the security agencies to be on top of the situation to unravel the matter so that similar things will not occur again. It’s an assassination too many already in our town,” Ogiri said.
Also, the Benue State House Assembly hopeful for Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency, Emmanuel Ondaje, has condemned the killing;.
