Former Benue SSG dies after ambush

Former Benue State Secretary to the Government (SSG), Prof. David Salifu, has died from gunshot injuries sustained after suspected armed men ambushed him along the Wukari–Joota Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

The road is a volatile border corridor between Benue and Taraba states. Prof. Salifu, a Professor of Public Administration and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Federal University Wukari, was said to have been travelling to Makurdi for the burial of his uncle when the attackers struck.

Sources disclosed that he was initially rushed to a hospital in Wukari, where doctors successfully removed bullets lodged in his stomach. He was later referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, for advanced medical care but died around midnight on Thursday.

Aide recounts attack on Wukari-Joota Road

Confirming the incident, a former aide to the deceased, Mr. Ben Ekah, said Prof. Salifu and his driver had departed the Federal University Wukari, where he lectures, before they were ambushed on the Wukari–Joota Road.

According to Ekah, the driver's account indicated that the armed men intercepted their vehicle, dragged the former SSG out and attempted to abduct him.

The driver said they were coming from the Federal University Wukari where Prof. Salifu lectures when they were waylaid along the Wukari–Joota Road, a border route between Taraba and Benue states.

— Mr. Ben Ekah, Former Aide To Prof. David Salifu

The attackers were trying to take him away, and he kept asking them what they wanted. As they continued dragging him, one of them suddenly pulled out a gun and shot him at close range in the stomach.

— Mr. Ben Ekah, Former Aide To Prof. David Salifu

They abandoned him after the shooting, leaving him in a pool of blood. His driver, however, managed to take him back to Wukari, where surgeons successfully removed the bullets from his stomach.

— Mr. Ben Ekah, Former Aide To Prof. David Salifu

On Thursday, he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for further treatment, but sadly he passed away around midnight.

— Mr. Ben Ekah, Former Aide To Prof. David Salifu

Academic and public service career

Ekah described the deceased as a humble, peaceful and dedicated academic whose death has left family members, colleagues and associates in deep mourning.

He was a lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Federal University Wukari. We learnt that the university management was holding a Senate meeting, but he excused himself to travel home for his uncle's burial. It is heartbreaking because everyone knew him as a peaceful man.

— Mr. Ben Ekah, Former Aide To Prof. David Salifu

Prof. Salifu served as Benue State's Secretary to the State Government during the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam from January 2011 to May 2015.

Police comment awaited

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached for comments on the incident.

No further official details on the attack or the identities of the suspected armed men were provided in the source material.