Gunmen kill two PDP chieftains, policeman in Benue

BENUE State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala, has confirmed the killing of two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were in Governor Gabriel Suswam’s senatorial campaign vehicle, by suspected gunmen at Gbinde in Ushongo local council.

Similarly, Mr. Dagala told newsmen that a police corporal was also killed by occupants of a vehicle during a stop and search exercise near the Federal Government College, Vandeikya.

The police boss, who expressed disgust at the disturbing rate of violence in the state, disclosed that the incidents took place last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the police spokesperson, Austin Ezeani, told The Guardian that the party’s chieftains, Agbatse Tarkighir and Degeh Ayaahemba, were PDP council leaders, who were traveling from Katsina-Ala to Adikpo when another vehicle overtook and suddenly opened fire on them.

According to him, two other passengers in the vehicle sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Ushongo, while the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital in Adikpo, Kwande local council.

Motive for the killing, he said, was yet to be established, but he assured that the police would bring the culprits to book even as he appealed to the public to desist from all acts of criminality, especially the killing of innocent people.
Ortom promises ‘sense of belonging’

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has pledged to run an administration that would give all communities in a sense of belonging if given the mandate.

He also reiterated his pledge to partner the church on ethical re-orientation and to deliver better health and educational services to the people.

Ortom gave the assurance in Otukpo while addressing the Idoma National Forum, after which he spoke with Anglican Bishops at St James Anglican Church, Agashua, near Gboko, where candidates of parties had been invited to give insight into their programmes.

He would also anchor his administration on the fear of God, which will translate to core values such as transparency, accountability, fairness, integrity, truthfulness, selflessness, justice, humility, forgiveness and reconciliation, to enhance unity and development.

Tarzoor to clear salary arrears
On his part, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor, has pledged to clear all outstanding salaries of civil servants if elected.

Tarzoor, who was addressing the group, Mount Saint Gabriel’s Old Boys, posited that the problem of delayed salaries was as a result of the global recess caused by the slide in oil prices, and was not peculiar to the state, which he said is the second highest in terms of payment of salaries.

He promised to galvanise a private sector-driven economy through industrialisation and agricultural mechanisation, while attention would be paid to tourism and health by synergizing with faith-based hospitals in the state for healthcare.