Former Benue SSG, Prof Salifu Di£s After Suspected Bandits Sh0t Him Along Wukari-Zakibiam Highway
Former Benue SSG, Prof Salifu Dies After Suspected Bandits Shot Him Along Wukari-Zakibiam Highway
It was gathered that Salifu died in the early hours of Friday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he had been receiving treatment following the attack.
Aformer Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), Prof David Salifu, has died after sustaining gunshot injuries during an attack by suspected bandits along the Wukari–Zakibiam Road linking Taraba and Benue states.
It was gathered that Salifu died in the early hours of Friday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he had been receiving treatment following the attack.
The deceased served as Secretary to the Benue State government during the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam and was until his death a lecturer at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State.
According to sources, Salifu was travelling from Wukari in Taraba State to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Thursday morning when suspected bandits intercepted his vehicle on the outskirts of Wukari.
Sources said the armed men stopped his vehicle and ordered him to alight and board a motorcycle.
The former SSG was reportedly shot after he challenged the attackers.
He was initially rushed to a hospital in Wukari before being transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with journalists on Friday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Benue South Senatorial candidate and a close associate of the deceased, Chief David Olofu, said Salifu died despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.
“He was a member of my campaign council and a confidant,” Olofu said.
“I learnt that he left Wukari for Benue when he encountered hoodlums on the outskirts of Wukari. They stopped his vehicle, asked him to come down, and thereafter shot him.”
Olofu disclosed that following the attack, Salifu was first taken to a teaching hospital in Wukari before arrangements were made for his transfer to Makurdi for specialist treatment.
According to him, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Wukari, approved the release of an ambulance and a team of medical personnel to facilitate the evacuation of the injured professor.
“However, he was eventually taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he died in the early hours of Friday,” Olofu said.
