A former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in the defunct Benue State, Prof. David Salifu has died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained during the attack by suspected bandits along the Wukari-Makurdi highway that cuts across Taraba and Benue states.
Prof. Salifu, who was the ex-Governor’s Secretariat General, was also a lecturer at the Federal University Wukari. He was on his way from Wukari to Makurdi on Thursday when his car was stopped by gunmen by the outskirts of Wukari, reports said.
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The attackers allegedly told him to get off of the bus and board the bike, but opened fire on him when he defied their orders.
After the attack, Salifu was rushed to hospital at Wukari before being shifted to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital where medical officers went all out to save his life but failed in the early hours of Friday of the week.
In an interview, African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Benue South Senatorial District, Chief David Olofu who is close to the deceased described Salifu as trusted confidant and member of his campaign council.
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Arrangements were made to carry the maimed professor and he was taken for special treatment but was later found dead in the Makurdi teaching hospital, Olofu said.
This killing has brought to mind the renewed worry of insecurity along the Wukari-Makurdi route which has experienced numerous attacks in recent years with armed groups. The investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made so far.
