From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed the Commander, Agro Rangers, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue State Command, DSC James Okoh.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Corps, Mike Ejelikwu, confirmed the death to newsmen in Makurdi, on Wednesday.
Ejelikwu said the incident took place on Monday.
He said the officer was killed during a gun duel with some group of armed herdsmen in Shaapera community, Gwer West Local Government Area, LGA of the state.
He, however, said there were casualties on the part of the militia, but lost only one agro ranger, who incidentally was the commander of the operation.
He, however, said the command was in touch with families and have commiserated with them over the loss. While describing the killing as one too many, the command’s PRO said it will not deter the command from carrying out its constitutional mandate of providing security for every law-abiding citizen residing within the state.
He said NSCDC has a specialised squad called the agro rangers located across Gwer West, Logo, Apa, Kwande, Guma, among other local governments to provide security for agro allied investment, be it animal husbandry or crop production.
He said the body of the deceased has been taken to the mortuary at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.
Speaking, uncle of the deceased agro ranger, Nicholas Igbabe, said his brother was tortured and brutally killed in Shaapera village in Gwer East LG.
He said the type of killing is becoming too much in the state and called on the state government to intervene, to curtail the menace.
The heartbroken uncle said: “We were told that he went for a special assignment at Shaapera village. It was there that herdsmen killed him in an exchange of gun battles. They confirmed that they were able to kill up to 10 of them, but, unfortunately, out of the four civil defence guys, one, which is my brother, was gunned down and others escaped.”
He called on the federal government to provide adequate security for the citizens to prevent waste of innocent, promising lives.