Again, gunmen kill soldier, rustle cows in Benue

A soldier has been allegedly killed in an ambush by gunmen in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. Our correspondent gathered that the deceased who was among the security operatives on special duty in the area was on Sunday shot to death by the gunmen along Anyiin-Gbeji road in Logo atop a commercial motorcycle. […]

A soldier has been allegedly killed in an ambush by gunmen in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased who was among the security operatives on special duty in the area was on Sunday shot to death by the gunmen along Anyiin-Gbeji road in Logo atop a commercial motorcycle.

Locals said the soldier was believed to be going to Anyin for a bank transaction from Uwev village, near Gbeji where his platoon was stationed after he received a call from his family that they needed upkeep money for the home.

He was said to have obtained permission from his superior before embarking on the short trip on bike about 5pm but met his death half way where the armed men were allegedly grazing their herds freely.

The villagers said the gunmen had opened gunfire soon after they sighted the pair -the soldier and the rider, leaving the soldier in an instantly pool of blood as they fled back into the bush while the rider escaped and raised an alarm which brought nearby residents to the scene.

Witnesses said the soldier was rushed to the hospital in Anyin where he died while narrating the incident to his colleagues.

According to the locals, it had become a daily occurrence for those armed men to lay in wait for their prey on that route as they allegedly killed a man driving in his car on Saturday around same spot in a similar manner.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi, Major Olabisi Ayeni, however said he was yet to receive the report of the incident as he promised to respond accordingly as soon as the details were available to him.

In a related development, gunmen suspected to be herders at the weekend allegedly attacked a privately-owned farm,  Doo Farms Limited, beside the Makurdi Medium Prison and made away with 35 coŵs.

It was learnt that the cattle thieves broke into the ranch at about 2:00am and shot sporadically to scare away the guards in the farm before they ransacked the farm house and took away all the foodstuff and the animals.

Spokesman of the Benue Police Command, ASP Moses Yamu, said he was not yet aware of the development but would find out the details before getting back to our correspondent.