Lecturer, 4 others killed in Benue

Asenior lecturer with the College of Education in Katsina-Ala town, Dr. Julius Kpagh, and four other people have been killed in separate incidents within Katsina Ala local government area of Benue State.

Daily Trust reports that rival gunmen have been using the area to settle their scores just as they terrorise the vicinity at will.

A similar killing occurred in the area in March when five people were hacked to death at Mbayongo district of Katsina-Ala with another five persons killed the next day in neighbouring Ayati village of Ukum LGA by those also suspected to have shot dead 10 members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the area in January.

Four of the latest victims were allegedly killed at TseIgbe village in Abaji town of Kastina Ala LGA on Saturday by unknown gunmen while the body of the deceased lecturer was found in one Seme Hotel same day.

Family sources said the deceased lecturer who, until his death, was the head of Chemistry Department at the college was said to have left his house earlier to visit a sick colleague but never returned.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Moses Joel Yamu, confirmed the incident, saying the late lecturer was earlier that Saturday declared missing but his body was later found at the hotel.

Yamu said investigation into both cases have commenced.

The death of Kpagh, brings to three the number of Katsina Ala COE staff who died in similar circumstances this year. In February, a former Bursar of the college, Mr. Godwin Yanbee Bosua, was found dead in his garden few days after he was allegedly abducted. Gunmen earlier killed a lecturer, Teseer Akaa Gbue, also an Assistant Registrar of the same institution in the presence of his family and made away with his car.