From Uche Nnorom
Two pastors have been reportedly murdered in Ochoro community of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State. by persons suspected to be members of Bonta militia.
The pastors whose names were given as Moses Ijoko Aleje and Ijuo Emmanuel Aleje, a pastor with Methodist Church, Ochoro were killed on Tuesday at about 10 am on their way to hospital.
An indigene of Ochoro Community told our correspondent on ground of anonymity that the two pastors who are Igede people of Ochoro Community in Konshisha local government area were gruesomely murdered by Bonta boys on their way to Oju Local Government for medical attention.
“The pastors were attacked as they were going to the hospital. They were shot dead and their motorcycles snatched away. The incident was reported to the Police as usual but whether they were able to go to the scene before they were buried, I do not know”.
Chairman, Konshisha Local Government Area, James Jirgba, said he received report while he was attending a meeting at Government Hoise, Makurdi that two persons who were on their way to hospital, were later found dead in the early hours of Tuesday.
“The crisis have been over for more than two weeks now but we heard that somebody from Igede who was coming from a journey dropped in Ukpute which is Igede area and strode into Tiv area but the people he met did not do anything to him. They kept him till dawn and yesterday (Wednesday) I called the Oju chairman to tell the DPO to take him back to his people. People take advantage of this crisis to commit anything”, Jirgba said.
As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Catherine Anene could not be reached to confirm the incident.
She failed to reply to a text message sent to hwe phone by our correspondent.
It could be recalled that two weeks ago, stakeholders including traditional rulers and prominent politicians from Konshisha and Oju converged at Government House, Makurdi and agreed to a ceasefire as well as apprehension of militia groups causing mayhem in the communities
