From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Unknown gunmen in the early hours of yesterday allegedly attacked a vehicle which conveyed the Benue State correspondent of Bussinessday Newspapers, Benjamin Agesan, killing three (3) persons.
An eye witness, Comrade Jerry Iorngaem, told our correspondent that the incident happened around Ugbema-Tyowanye road in Bureau local government area.
Jerry narrated that the journalist who was returning to Makurdi from Katsina-ala, his home country, initially boarded a public bus but on sighting the car of one of his close friends who was also returning to Makurdi, Benjamin opted to follow him.
The source further said it was discovered that the vehicle he joined also conveyed local tax collectors who were carrying huge sums of money and were been trailed by the gunmen.
“Shortly after take-off, the gunmen trailed the vehicle to about 5km and shot sporadically at it and in the process, punctured the tyres which caused it to somersault into the bush.
“They then ransacked the entire vehicle killing three occupants while monies said to be in millions were also carted away by the gunmen leaving the journalist in the pool of his blood”, Jerry said.
Efforts to get police confirmation about the incident from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene failed as she told journalist that she is not aware of it.
As the time of filing this report, Mr. Agesan was said to be receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
