Gunmen kill civil defence officer in Benue
A Commander of Agro Ranger sector of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue State has been reportedly killed by armed invaders in the Shaapera community of Gwer West LGA of the state.
The deceased commander, James Okoh, was said to be on a special assignment when he was killed on Monday by the armed invaders.
NSCDC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Superintendent of Corps, Mike Ejelikwu, who confirmed the death of the officer to journalists in Makurdi, said the regrettable incident would not deter the command from performing its constitutional mandate of providing security for every law-abiding citizen residing within Benue state.
He explained that the NSCDC had specialised squad called the Agro Rangers located across Gwer West, Logo, Apa, Kwande, Guma LGAs respectively among others to provide security for Agro-allied investment whether it be animal husbandry or crop production, noting that despite the painful loss of their officer, there was however heavy casualties on the part of the militias.
He said the command lost only one Agro Ranger in that particular operation who incidentally was the commander, stressing that the command had commiserated with the family over the loss.
Meanwhile, the uncle of the deceased Agro Ranger, narrated that his brother was tortured and brutally killed in Shaapera village in Gwer East LGA, expressing worries that such type of killings was becoming too much in the state and called on the state government to intervene.
He further disclosed that the corpse of his deceased brother had been deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital morgue in Makurdi.
He explained, “We were told that he went for a special assignment at Shaapera village and it was there that they were confronted by armed herders while they exchanged bullets in a gun battle.
“They confirmed to us (family) that the personnel were able to kill up to 10 of the attackers; unfortunately, one of the four Civil Defence officers which included my brother was gunned down and others escaped.”