A newly-wedded man and his friend were killed on Monday in Ulam community along Awajir-Oju road of Gwer East Local Government Area in Benue State.

The victims, identified as Jonathan Uko, and Ogoda Gabriel, both of Igede descent in Oju Local Government Area, were travelling on a motorcycle from Oju to Makurdi when they were attacked and killed.

Our correspondent reports that while some locals alleged that the act was carried out by local militias, others blamed herders for the killings.

They said bodies of the deceased were recovered in Ulam, a Tiv-speaking area with no known history of communal clashes with the Igede people.

A resident of Oju, who gave her name as Adia, said Jonathan got married on August 2 and was murdered two days later.

The resident said the wife of Jonathan’s friend who was also killed put to bed recently.

“The Ulam community is not in conflict with the Igede. Previously, it was Bonta in Konshisha and Ukpute in Oju that had issues, but peace has been returning to the area. We are still trying to identify those behind this attack,” Adia said.

However, a Tiv resident from Gwer East, who declined to be named, insisted that herders were responsible as he claimed that in recent times, herders have frequently blocked roads, attacking and killing travellers.

Police spokesperson for Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to calls or text messages on the matter.

However, Senator Abba Moro condemned the murder of Jonathan and Gabriel, describing the killings as barbaric.

Moro, who represents Benue South senatorial district, noted that the brutal killing of the two promising young men happened at a time when Benue people were expected to unite together against external aggressors.

“This is very unfortunate and lamentable,” he stated.

The senator therefore called on security agents to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those who carried out the heinous crime are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He also charged the Benue State government to wade into the crisis ravaging the Gwer/Konshisha/Oju axis of the state, with a view to putting to an end the killings and destruction of properties happening along that axis.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the killing of the Igede youths and ordered immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, on Tuesday, stated that security reports indicated that the two were traveling from Oju on their motorcycle when they were attacked and killed in cold blood.

The governor also denounced a separate attack on Nyifon community in Mbaikyongo Ward of Buruku LGA, noting that the incident, reportedly carried out by youths from the Mbayaka community in Kusuv of same Buruku LGA, followed a misunderstanding linked to a boat mishap.

He described the two incidents which happened separately in different local governments in the state as uncalled for and unfortunate, saying nobody or group has the right to invade another community or inflict harm under any circumstance.

He therefore directed the security agencies to move in, liaise with the traditional rulers of the areas concerned and ensure that they comb the vicinity thoroughly and within 48 hours, identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crimes to face the full wrath of the law.

Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, and called on all communities across the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding while investigations continue. (Daily Trust)