Ortom tells security agents to arrest killers of top aide

      

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Friday ordered security agents to apprehend killers of his Senior Special Assistant on Special Security, Mr Denen Igbana, who was gunned down by unknown gun men in his house last night.
The Governor who visited the family of the deceased to console his wife and children, said those who killed his aide had touched him personally.
He charged security agents to carry out full investigation into the killing, adding that no suspect should be left out

The Governor described the deceased as a dependable aide who was the pillar of the amnesty program.
According to him, the vacuum he left would be difficult to fill. He vowed that the law would take its full course when the culprits were apprehended.
The Governor said the aide supported his governorship ambition from the beginning and accompanied him during the electioneering period, pointing out that he justified his appointment which was based on merit by checking criminality, particularly kidnapping in the state.
He said the late Igbana was one of his closest aides and announced the summoning of an emergency state security meeting on the killing and increase in activities of hoodlums.

Governor Ortom also visited the first son of the deceased who was on hospital admission at a private hospital as a result of shock and directed that he be transferred to another with better facilities.

A community leader in the Tionsha neighborhood of the deceased, Mr Thomas Ayakpam, stated that the deceased who shouted the name of his assassin at the top of his voice was a great asset to the community and that his death had left neighbors at the mercy of criminals.
He called for the arrest of the suspect which the deceased had mentioned adding that even though he had died his family and community deserved justice.
Other neighbours stated that the gunmen ambushed the deceased and started shooting at his vehicle as he parked on arrival home after midnight and that when he ran out, they pursued and shot him several times about 100 meters from his residence.
They said he was rushed first to the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi where doctors were on strike, before being taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital where he died.
In another development, the Benue State Government haas banned the operation of commercial motorcyclists in Makurdi between 8pm and 6am from today.
The decision which Governor Ortom announced after the state security meeting followed reports of the recent criminal acts in the Benue State capital including the murder of the late Igbana were carried out using motorcycles.