Man murdered two days after wedding in Benue

A newly-wed man and his friend shut dead 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.

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 ppdeclined 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.