Gunmen assassinate community leader, APC chieftain, Ijachi in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Suspected gunmen have killed a community leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Otukpo  Local Government Area of Benue State, Chief Ejeh Udeh Ijachi.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened in the early hours of  Monday at his residence in Ugboju community, Otukpo Local Government Area of the State.

His death comes eight years after he escaped several assassination attempts on his life in the area due to alleged aged-long crisis between his immediate brother, and himself over ownership of lands.

Before his death on Monday, a fallout of the land dispute between the two blood brothers had led to the death of many prominent individuals in Ondo and Ogobia communities, including a former state chairman of PDP, Major Lawrence Ugboh who was murdered alongside with 7 others in September 2017.

However, the assassination of Ijachi has thrown Ugboju community and the entire Otukpo local government area into mourning, with residents describing the killing as a huge loss.

 Eyewitnesses told our correspondent on phone that the assassins, came on motorcycles and lay ambush for their  victim and on sighting him inside his compound, they started shooting sporadically.

“They surrounded him and shot at him at close range. His body has since been deposited at the morgue in Otukpo,” one of eyewitnesses said. 

The executive chairman of Otukpo local government area, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, who is the chief security officer of the local government confirmed the incidence to our correspondent in Makurdi on phone.

He explained that the late Ejeh was murdered by unknown gunmen who traced him to his residence to carried out the dastardly act.

” Yes, Hon Ejeh Udeh was murdered. We don’t know the reasons for his murder, whether remote or immediate. But we can only say that his murderers were determined.

They followed him to his house after he came back from a hangout with some friends and associates. He entered his house alone, parked his car and went to his house and they began to fire from a distance, got closer to him and then finished him up.  

“I went to the scene in company of the DSS boss and other heads of security agencies and they promised to expand their dragnet to ensure arrest of the perpetrators”, Ogiri said.  

Prince Ogiri lamented that the gruesome murder of Ejeh has cast a dark shadow in Ogboju community, saying that Ijachi was a well-known figure, a community leader, an opinion molder and also a chieftain of the APC in Otukpo LG.

“Like is always said “A soul killed in a cold blood is more painful than tens killed in a program. This is one of such deaths.

“This Killing took place in Ondo in Ugboji, Otukpo LG. The assailant came at about 1:am and it was raining seriously at that time. People were indoors. 

“It was the sound of gun shots that attracted people. They chose a perfect time to carry out their dastardly act”, he stated.

When contacted, Benue State command police public relations officer PPRO DSP Udeme Edet, said she was yet to receive information about the incidence.