An army Colonel in transit along the Katsina Ala/Takum highway in Benue State on his way from Lagos was killed while in uniform.
The military officer, who was coming from Lagos and travelling to Takum in Taraba State, was killed at Sattii Agrigi along Katsina Ala/Takum highway.
Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the killing of the senior officer yesterday morning. He, however, said it was an armed robbery incident.
Locals speaking on the incident said “soldiers in the wee hours of Monday stormed Katsina Ala town in retribution and burnt down some houses in the town.”
Ortom, however, denied these claims stressing that if anything of such happened it was the handiwork of miscreants.
“We were told the military men in the area went after the perpetrators. It is not so, but the mischief makers tried to cash in on the matter.
The governor urged people along that axis to go about their business without fear, adding that he had dispatched his security adviser along with security chiefs in the state to the area to beef up security.
“We are on top of the situation. The case has been treated as armed robbery case.”
“I have sent my security adviser alongside quick rapid response comprising the military, Police Commissioner and NSCDC to the area and the perpetrators will be brought to book.”
The Benue State Command spokesman, ASP Moses Yamu, informed sources he was not aware but referred our correspondent to the military.
Efforts to get the response of Assistant Director Army Information, 707 Special Force, Makurdi, Major Olabisi Ayeni have not been successful however as he could not be reached on phone.