Violence in Benue Takes New Turn As Onoja's Aide.

Gunmen kill Onoja’s aide in Otukpo

Uja Emmanuel Makurdi and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja 19/03/2011 02:34:00

Unknown gunmen in the early hours of yesterday shot and killed Emmanuel Ajibo, an aide to the ACN senatorial candidate for Benue South, Gen. Lawrence Onoja.
Narrating the incident to newsmen in his Otukpo residence, Gen. Onoja said at about 5.30 am, unknown gunmen stormed the residence of his aide, Emmanuel Ajibo, located on Ibadan Street, Otukpo, where they shot and killed him in his room.
He said the unknown gunmen immediately fled, leaving their victim in a pool of his blood. He blamed the killing on those who wanted to rule Idomaland by crook or hook.
The former military administrator of Plateau and Katsina states condemned the killing of his aide and called on the police to immediately arrest the perpetrators of the gruesome murder and bring them to justice.
The Divisional Police Officer in Otukpo, Zakari Ibrahim, confirmed the incident, saying investigation to unravel the mystery behind the killing had commenced.
Meanwhile, with preparations towards the senatorial election in top gear, the office of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday raised the alarm that his campaign train had been attacked by some armed thugs on his way to Igumale, the headquarters of Ado Local Government in Benue State.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Publicity of the David Mark Campaign Organisation, Chief Adakole Elijah, the thugs, who ambushed the train on the outskirts of Igumale, forced the convoy of Senator Mark to detour to Okpoeja, the headquarters of Okpowu Local Government.
While directing the campaign train to divert to Okpoga, Mark was quoted as saying: "The lives of members of my campaign train are important to me. I do not want to lose any of you to the assault of the minority opposition.
"We would return to Ado Local Government on a latter day when the opposition would have reasoned that elections are not won by violence. I have ordered the policemen on this entourage not to fire a shot because I have a responsibility to protect the lives of indigenes of Benue South, Benue State as well as Nigerians in general."