By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Lawmakers ambushed: Benue Assembly members escape attack
Five members of the Benue State House of Assembly narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected armed herders. The incident occurred on Thursday around 10 pm at Tyomu in the Gwer Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent learned that the gunmen had taken over the Gboko/Makurdi highway, firing indiscriminately at motorists traveling the road at that time. The assembly members were returning from an oversight function in Katsina-Ala LGA when they were attacked.
The targeted lawmakers included the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, Chief Whip, Ipusu Bemdoo, Samuel Jiji of Logo State Constituency, Simon Gabo of Mata State Constituency, and Cephas Dyaku.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Orientation, Elias Audu, stated, “On Thursday, May 23, 2024, at about 10 pm, members of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly were returning from Katsina-Ala after a public hearing on a bill for the establishment of Benue State Civil Protection Guards and related purposes.
“Suspected herders, numbering more than forty and riding motorcycles, ambushed them at Tyomu and fired multiple shots at the vehicles conveying the members.”
Audu conveyed the concern of Speaker Aondona Dajoh over the frequent attacks on innocent people in the state, noting the particular worry over the attack on assembly members following a public hearing on a security bill.
The House has called on security agencies to swiftly apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice.
Attempts to reach the state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, for a comment were unsuccessful as her phone went unanswered.
Ambushed, Attack.
Lawmakers ambushed: Benue Assembly members escape attack