Gunmen kill three police officers, two others in Benue

By HOPE ABAH EMMANUEL, Makurdi

Gunmen, on Thursday morning, shot dead five people – three police men and two civilian – at the residence of Alfred Avalumun Atera, chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State.

Daily Trust gathered that several others were wounded during the attack which happened at 11:30am.

Witnesses said the incident caused pandemonium in the rural town which had been under siege by gunmen for nearly five years before a military special squad was drafted to the area to restore sanity.

Information Officer of the Council, Tertsea Benga, told our correspondent by telephone that people were trooping into his boss’s residence for Christmas largesse when suddenly the gunmen struck, killing the policemen and two other civilian – one of them, a gateman at the house.

Benga confirmed that the incident happened between 11:00am and 12:00pm on Thursday.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state command, DSP Catherine Anene, was yet to confirm the incident at the time of filing this story as she indicated in response to a text message to her telephone that she would call back later. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Trust)