A former Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), Prof. David Salifu, has died from gunshot wounds sustained during an attack by suspected gunmen along the Wukari–Joota Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, a border corridor between Benue and Taraba states.
Salifu, a Professor of Public Administration and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Federal University Wukari, was reportedly on his way to Makurdi to attend the burial of his uncle when his vehicle came under attack.
He was shot in the stomach during the incident and was initially taken to a hospital in Wukari, where surgeons successfully removed the bullets lodged in his abdomen. He was later referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, for further medical attention but died around midnight on Thursday.
Confirming the incident, a former aide to the late professor, Mr. Ben Ekah, said Salifu had just left the Federal University Wukari with his driver when they were ambushed by armed men on the Wukari–Joota Road.
According to Ekah, the assailants intercepted the vehicle, forced Salifu out and attempted to abduct him before one of them opened fire.
