Some gunmen on Sunday killed Jarule Likita, a ward commander of the Benue State Livestock Guard, in the Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor of the state had established the Livestock Guard to enforce the anti-open grazing law enacted by his government.
The gunmen were reported to have invaded the Tine-Nune community in the local government area around 8.30 pm and went straight to Likita’s house where they shot him in the chest.
Sources said on Monday that until his killing, Likita was the personnel of the livestock guard at the Mbatian council ward.
Punch quoted one of the sources to have said that, “Some unidentified gunmen went to the house of the livestock guard commander of Mbatian ward at Tine-Nune settlement, Jarule Likita, around 8.30 pm yesterday (Sunday) and shot him in the chest several times.
“The assassination of Commander Likita marked the fifth BSLG Commander that has been assassinated by unknown gunmen in the local government area in recent time.”
Confirming the killing, the State Commander of Livestock Guard, Linus Zaki, lamented the killings of his personnel in the local government area in recent times.
Zaki, who spoke to journalists on the telephone on Monday said, “I was just being informed that some armed men attacked and killed him (Jarule Likita).
“He was the only one killed. They have been killing our personnel like that. Three of my men died about two months ago. They will just come, shoot them and go away.
“They call them gunmen, unknown gunmen that is the report reaching me. One of the murdered guards went to pick up his wife and was gunned down so also others. I do not know where these gunmen are coming from.”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive information on the incident.
