WAEC official killed in war-torn Agatu LGA in Benue

MAKURDI—A West African Examination Council, WAEC, examination supervisor (names withheld) has been reportedly killed in war-torn Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, while on his way to conduct WAEC examinations at Ayila, a community in the area.

Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the deceased who was an indigene of Ogwule-Kaduna in Agatu Local Government, was allegedly killed by one of the militia of the feuding Ologba and Egba communities, who may have mistaken him for an enemy.

The Benue State House of Assembly member representing Agatu, Mr. Sule Audu, who confirmed the killing, told reporters in a telephone interview that the crisis was currently preventing prospective examination candidates and supervisors from going for the exams for fear of falling victim in the crisis.

 

Lawmaker calls for calm

Audu further alleged that the deceased could have been kidnapped in the crises-ridden area, but added that he could not confirm his killers.

He said: “I will not be able say who killed him; whether it was Egba or Ologba people because I was not there.

‘’The place, based on the report I received from the police and the local government chairman, is a war zone and anybody that passes there could be a victim.”

According to the legislator, some people said he was killed between Egba and Ologba, while others said he was killed between Obagaji and Ologba.

Audu said he had appealed to the community and youth leaders of Ogwule-Kaduna to remain calm and refrain from avenging the death, noting that the killers of their kinsman had not been ascertained.

 

Mediation

He said efforts were on to convene a meeting of the warring parties and stakeholders at Oshigbudu, to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

When contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent Austin Ezeani, said the Area Commander in Otukpo, Samuel Drakoji, confirmed that the command received the information but he could not confirm whether the man was killed or abducted as there was no blood stain where his footwear was found.

Ezeani also said the police was still combing the bush in the area in search of his body as there were no clues to show that he was killed.

He said: “They are still searching for his body. They only saw his footwear, so they are still combing the bush to find out if he was killed or whether he was abducted.”

Efforts to speak to WAEC officials in Makurdi failed as the officer in charge of the office was said to have travelled to Enugu for an official assignment.

 

WAEC official killed in war-torn Agatu LGA in Benue