Seven killed in Gboko, Benue

COMMISSIONER of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni in Benue State has said that seven persons were killed by irate youths in Gboko area of Benue State.

Owoseni disclosed this on yesterday while briefing newsmen in his office, and stated that the victims of the attack travelling either to Okene or Taraba when the hoodlums attacked, killed and burnt them to ashes.

The State Police boss added that policemen in the town quickly moved to the scene of the incident, stressing that some hoodlums at the park hurled stones at them.

“We got information around 11 am this morning that some hoodlums believed to be of Tiv stock between 9.30am and 10.am stormed a garage in Gboko where they attacked seven people believed to be of Fulani extraction, killed and burnt them.’

“The  passengers were said to be in the park where they were trying to board  commercial vehicle to Okene or Taraba, police in the area of the attack got information and rushed to the place but the criminals embarked on hurling stoned on the police.”

The CP  however stated that some people have been arrested  in connection with the crisis and have been brought to the state command to help the police with useful information.

Owoseni who condemned the act warned the people of the state that the command would not hesitate to ensure the arrest of anyone found culpable of the crisis.

He however dismissed any insinuation  that the crisis has anything to do with ethnic, religion or political coloration but  described it as a pure banditry.

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Owoseni  said that there was intelligence report that some people in and outside the state were planning attack on some communities along Benue and Nasarwa borders.

He added that the people wanted to cash on the recent crisis in Kadarko area of Nasarawa state, adding that the people had acquired sophisticated arms for the action.

“To me this will further escalate the security challenges that we are facing in the state, it is necessary to emphasize that police will not hesitate to deal decisively with criminal elements who want to take advantage the situation.”

Meanwhile the state government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the troubled Gboko area till further notice.

According to the statement issued by the media adviser to the governor, mr Tahav Argezua said that the curfew  will last from 6pm to 6am from 31 of January till further notice.

He stated that those exempted from the curfew are those on essential service such as hospital staff as well as those who show convincing  identification.