Gunmen Kill 13 In Benue, Set Houses Ablaze by Amotolongbo

(f ): 7:26pm On Aug 10

The Police Command in Benue, on Monday confirmed the

killing of 13 villagers by unidentified gunmen in Edikwu

District, Apa Local Government Area (LGA).

DSP Catherine Anene, Police Public Relations Officer

(PPRO) said in a statement in Makurdi.

that the district had overtime experienced crisis over

chieftaincy tussle until the state government intervened and

peace returned in the community.

She said that the attackers remained unidentified while

investigation has already commenced into the matter.

“Edikwu district, Ukpogbo, in Apa LGA was experiencing

incessant crises over chieftaincy affairs until May 25, when

the Benue government convened a peace meeting, headed

by the Deputy Governor, Mr Benson Abounu to put an end

to the rancour.

“Peace was restored to the area but on Aug. 10, at about

04:00hrs, information was received that about 20 armed

men invaded the community and shot sporadically at

members of the community.

“A team of police officers were deployed to the scene

where 13 corpses were recovered. Investigation is still in

progress”. She said.

A resident of the community who preferred anonmity told

the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the attack on

Edikwu community was unprovoked.

“The unknown gunmen stormed the community at the early

of hours of today, shooting sporadically and burning down

houses, leaving many people dead while oth

Fresh facts at the disposal of SaharaReporters have revealed

that Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who was said to have been flown to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during the Sallah break over a severe neck pain, may have had other motives for going to the Arabian country.

 

It was reliably gathered on Monday that Mrs Buhari actually flew to Dubai in a jet belonging to billionaire Mohammed Indimi for the purpose of shopping for luxury items in preparation for the wedding of her daughter, Hanan. Dubai is a popular destination for Nigerians especially the wealthy class seeking quality and expensive items for personal use and or grand ceremonies.

 

Before her trip abroad, President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have met with the family of Hanan’s fiancée for further arrangements and other processes forming part of the occasion to be put in place.

 

A source reliably informed SaharaReporters that Mrs Buhari’s travel was packaged to look like a health emergency in order not to raise eyebrows for violating government’s restriction on international flights due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Nigerian Government had on March 23, 2020 banned  internationalc flights to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

 

“It was well planned, her neck doctor is in London not Dubai. She travelled to shop for luxury items ahead of Hanan’s. wedding

 

“There is presently a ban on international flights by the government except it is essential, so the best way for her to travel was under the guise of medical treatment,” the source said. Hanan is a graduate of Photography from Ravensbourn, University London, United Kingdom.

Recall that in July 2019, she ordered the Department of State Services to arrest a young businessman based in Delta State, Athony Okolie, after he was issued a mobile number by telecommunications company MTN previously used and abandoned by her. Okolie spent 10 weeks in unlawful detention before he was finally released by the secret police.

Earlier in January, Hanan was again in the news after she attended an event to photograph a Durbar by Rilwanu Adamu, Emir of Bauchi, in one of the jets in the presidential fleet. The  move was condemned by Nigerians even though the Presidency defended the action by saying that it was a normal procedure.