Gunmen attack journalists in Benue

Gunmen attack journalists in Benue
From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
Thursday, March 03, 2011
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Three journalists and a driver attached to the Benue State Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani escaped death by the whiskers yesterday on their way from a political rally at Gbajimba, Benue State.

While two of them escaped unhurt, the other two including the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Ejembi Ogwuche and the driver of the vehicle, Inalegwu Odeh were not that lucky as they were shot at by their attackers.

Daily Sun gathered from victims who are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi that the press crew vehicle they were travelling in from Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area of the state was flagged down by some men they initially thought were either policemen or vigilance group.

The driver of the vehicle, Inalegwu Odeh revealed further that on sighting the men, he slowed down to acknowledge them but was shocked when without uttering a word, they started shooting at the vehicle.
“When I discovered that they were not vigilance group or policemen as I thought, I quickly engaged the gear and zoomed off from the scene while they continued to shoot sporadically after us.”
Asked if their attackers could be armed robbers, Inalegwu who disclosed that the incident happened around a village before University of Agriculture, Makurdi at about 8.15p.m., said they couldn’t have been robbers since they did not ask them for anything but just started shooting at them.

The vehicle with registration number GNGH 113 was riddled with bullets both on the left side and the windscreen. Meanwhile, the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the attack was the handiwork of members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who according to them were bent on taking over power through violence.

Speaking through its Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the PDP vowed to resist any further act of provocation from the opposition party. When contacted, the state Chairman of the ACN, Abba Yaro dismissed the allegation levelled against his party by the ruling PDP as false, insisting that his party would dislodge the incumbent governor in the forthcoming April polls.