Tension in Benue as gunmen kill Ortom’s aide

Governor Samuel Otom of Benue State

Tension is rising in Benue State following the assassination of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Otom, on Security, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Christopher Dega (retd).

According to Daily Sun, Dega, who is a two times Commissioner of Police in Borno and Edo states, died after he was shot severally in the chest by yet to be identified gunmen, yesterday, in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

The deceased AIG hails from Katsina-Ala local government area in Benue state.

Reacting to the incident, Governor Ortom described Dega’s murder as a huge blow to his administration and the entire state.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, the governor lamented that the retired AIG was very active even in retirement, saying it was painful that he was gunned down in such a gruesome manner.

“Retired AIG Dega served with me here and this is someone who has retired, but is not tired, and was very active. So, for him to have been murdered in the manner they did, a retired AIG gunned down, is very sad,” Ortom stated.

He decried the increasing spate of insecurity that has bedevilled the North East, North West and North Central, South-South, South East, South West, and called on security agencies to find the killers of his aide, sunnewsonline reports.

The governor, who sympathised with the family, friends and former colleagues of the deceased, prayed to God to grant him eternal rest.

Meanwhile, the Plateau state police command said it has arrested some suspected killers of Dega.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah, in a statement, yesterday, said: “The Plateau State Police Command, on a sad note, received an ugly report of the death of AIG Christopher Dega (retd).

On 31/05/2021, at about 2030hrs, AIG Christopher Dega was shot dead by three yet to be identified gunmen, in an isolated restaurant at Bukuru, Jos.

“From the investigation, so far, it appeared that he was trailed and shot. He arrived at Jos from Makurdi on the same date, at about 1930hrs.”

Ubah said thorough investigation was already ongoing, to unravel those behind the killing.