Five persons, including two policemen and a university lecturer, have been killed by suspected gunmen in two separate attacks in Benue State.
The incidents occurred at Yelwata and Jootar, Mbaterem in the Guma and Ukum Local Government Areas of the state respectively on Thursday.
In the Yelwata area of the Guma LGA, the two policemen were killed by gunmen and their guns taken away by their assailants.
A resident told our correspondent on the phone that the policemen were on duty when they were shot dead.
It was learnt that the second incident occurred at a relaxation spot in Jootar Mbaterem at 7pm.
“The unfortunate incident took place at about 7pm when three friends sat at a drinking joint close to a federal quarantine checkpoint when a Bajaj motorcycle carrying a lady and two men arrived and one of the men shot the people and zoomed off,” a source told our correspondent on the phone.
The immediate past chairman of the Ukum Local Government, Steve Ayua, confirmed the killing of a university lecturer and two others in the council.
“It is true, the incident happened,” Ayua said.
Contacted, the state police spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, only confirmed the killing of the policemen in Guma.
“I received information that two policemen died in an operation at Makurdi-Lafia road but I have yet to receive details, please,” Anene added.
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