Former Benue SSG dies after suspected bandit attack

David Salifu, a former Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG) and lecturer at Federal University, Wukari, has died after being shot during a suspected bandit attack. The incident occurred Thursday along the Wukari-Zaki Biam road in Taraba State.

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He left Wukari and was coming to Benue when he encountered hoodlums at the outskirts of Wukari. They stopped his car and asked him to come down, but the bandits thereafter shot him.

Salifu was reportedly traveling from Wukari to Makurdi when his vehicle was stopped by assailants. According to David Olofu, an associate and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, the bandits shot Salifu after he refused to exit his car during an attempted abduction.

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He was shot on the Wukari-Zaki Biam road in Taraba State by people who wanted to kidnap him. After he escaped with gunshot wounds, he was rushed to Benue for treatment in the hospital, where he later gave up the ghost.

He was initially taken to a hospital in Wukari before arrangements were made for a transfer to Abuja. However, he was ultimately taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi, where he died early Friday. The exact reasons for the change in destination remain unclear.

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an exceptional public servant, an accomplished scholar and an astute administrator.

Confirming the attack, Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, stated that Salifu was shot by suspected kidnappers. He was rushed to Benue for treatment but succumbed to his injuries. The incumbent SSG, Deborah Serumun, and former Governor Gabriel Suswam both issued statements mourning Salifu, remembering him as an exceptional public servant, scholar, and administrator.

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a hardworking gentleman and public servant