Former Secretary to the Benue State Government, David Salifu, has died after he was attacked by suspected bandits along the Wukari–Makurdi road.
He was said to have suffered gunshot injuries during the incident before later passing away at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
Reports say Salifu was travelling from Wukari to Makurdi when armed men stopped his vehicle on the outskirts of Wukari.
The attackers reportedly forced him to step out of his car and asked him to get on a motorcycle. The situation turned violent when he resisted, and he was shot by the attackers.
He was first rushed to a hospital in Wukari after the attack, where he received emergency attention.
Due to the seriousness of his injuries, arrangements were made to transfer him for further treatment.
A source said medical support was arranged with help from the Federal University, Wukari, which provided an ambulance and a medical team to move him.
Although there were initial plans to take him to Abuja for advanced care, he was eventually taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
He died in the early hours of Friday while receiving treatment.
David Salifu previously served as Secretary to the Benue State Government under former Governor Gabriel Suswam and was also a lecturer at the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State.
He remained active in political activities in Benue State up until his death.
A close associate confirmed the attack and described how Salifu was stopped by armed men before being shot after a confrontation.
The associate also noted that he was a member of a political campaign council and well known within the group.
