Mourner shot dead in Benue

One of the persons in a procession for a dead person in Edikwu Ankpali of Apa Local Government Area of Benúe State has been killed.

Locals said the incident which happened at the weekend had saddened the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa LGA, because the deceased was one of them.

“The deceased alongside other mourners were all IDPs chased away from their various communities by armed herders. They were going to bury one of their dead person in Edikwu Ankpali when they suddenly came under attack.”

“One of the mourners was killed during the attack on their procession, forcing them to retreat to the IDP host community Ugbokpo but now with two corpses instead of the one they were earlier taking home,” a local narrated.

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A youth leader in the area who preferred anonymity gave the name of the deceased mourner as Emmanuel from Edikwu Ankpali, saying that he was murdered at Amuke Odugbo road at the weekend.

He said the late Emmanuel was among several other youths and security personnel who were escorting a corpse to Edikwu Ankpali for burial but came under attack which led to the heavy exchange of fire between the security operatives and the invaders for several hours.

The youth leader added that the corpse that was being conveyed for burial could not reach Edikwu Ankpali for burial but returned to the morgue while the deceased Emmanuel was immediately buried at Ugbokpo.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benúe Command, SP Catherine Anene, had yet to confirm the incident as she did not respond to calls and text message put through her telephone.