Mr. David Salifu, former Secretary to the Benue State Government has died after suffering gunshot wounds sustained during an attack by bandits along the Wukari–Makurdi highway.
Salifu, who served under the administration of Gabriel Suswam, was also a lecturer at the Federal University, Wukari, in Taraba State.
According to PUNCH, Salifu was travelling from Wukari to Makurdi on Thursday when armed men intercepted his vehicle on the highway.
The attackers reportedly ordered him out of the vehicle and instructed him to board a motorcycle.
Sources alleged that he was shot after challenging the criminals.
A close associate of the deceased and the African Democratic Congress’ Benue South senatorial candidate, David Olofu, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Friday.
He said Salifu died in the wee hours of the day at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
“He was a member of my campaign council and a confidant. I learnt that he (Salifu) left Wukari and was coming to Benue when he encountered hoodlums at the outskirts of Wukari.
“They stopped his car and asked him to come down but the bandits thereafter shot him.
“He was taken to the teaching hospital in Wukari but due to the seriousness of the injury, we spoke to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Wukari who released an ambulance to bring him to Abuja with a team of doctors.
“But somehow, he was taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi where he died early hours of today,” Olofu said.
Police authorities in Benue State are yet to issue an official statement in respect to the development.
