From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Tragedy struck the Benue State government yesterday when one of Governor Samuel Ortom’s aides, Dr. Tavershima Adyorough, was shot dead in his Makurdi residence.
Adyorough, who was Principal Special Assistant on Knowledge Economy and Investments, was shot and killed by gunmen who raided his residence at about 12.30am yesterday. The attackers also shot his wife.
Reacting to Adyorough’s murder, Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, urged security agencies to fish out the killers and bring them to book.
The statement said, “Governor Ortom described the killing as unacceptable and condemnable, requesting security agencies to swing into action immediately so as to arrest those responsible for the dastardly act.”
While describing Adyorough as a competent and dependable aide, who delivered on assignments with dedication and honesty, Ortom sympathised with the immediate family of the deceased, the government and people of the state.
He promised to support security agencies in apprehending the culprits, while urging those with useful information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest to make same available.
On its part, the Benue State Police Command, in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, stated that: “The Benue Police Command has received information that (yesterday) at about 0020hrs, two yet-to-be identified gunmen shot Dr. Tavershima Adyorough and his wife in their residence at BIPC Quarters, Nyiman Makurdi.”
Yamu said on arrival at the scene, the police rushed the couple to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where the governor’s aide was confirmed dead, while the wife, who survived the attack, is receiving treatment.
He added that five expended cartridges were recovered from the scene of the crime, and the Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, has ordered an investigation to unravel those behind the attack.
He assured members of the public that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
This is the second aide to the Benue State governor to be killed at their residences.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Security, Denen Igbana was shot dead early last year at his Tionsha residence, allegedly by the gang of dreaded militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana.
Ghana, who is currently on the wanted list of the police for the crime, also has a ransom of N10 million placed on him by the state government for anyone who has useful information that could lead to his arrest.