Professor David Salifu, former secretary to the Benue state government (SSG), has died after sustaining gunshot injuries during an attack by suspected kidnappers along the Wukari-Makurdi road in Taraba state.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday while the former state official was travelling from Wukari to Makurdi.
According to sources familiar with the incident, suspected kidnappers intercepted his vehicle and attempted to abduct him. Although Prof. Salifu reportedly managed to escape from the attackers, he sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
He was immediately rushed to a hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, where medical personnel battled to save his life. However, he was later confirmed dead on Thursday night.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, with security agencies yet to release an official account of the incident.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Benue state police command were unsuccessful, as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The latest incident has further heightened concerns over the growing insecurity along major highways in parts of the North-Central and North-East, where attacks by kidnappers and other armed groups have become increasingly frequent.