Jarule Likita, ward commander of the Benue State Livestock Guard (BSLG), was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on Sunday in the state’s Ukum Local Government Area.
The state administration created the Livestock Guard to carry out the anti-open grazing regulations signed by the former governor, Samuel Ortom.
Around 8.30 p.m., the gunmen reportedly broke into the Tine-Nune neighbourhood in the local government area and went straight to Likita’s home, where they shot him in the chest.
According to sources, Likita was the livestock guard at the Mbatian council ward up until the time of his death.
“Some unidentified gunmen went to the house of the livestock guard commander of Mbatian ward at Tine-Nune settlement, Jarule Likita, around 8.30 pm yesterday (Sunday) and shot him in the chest several times.
“The assassination of Commander Likita marked the fifth BSLG Commander that has been assassinated by unknown gunmen in the local government area in recent time”, one of the sources said.
Speaking on the development, the state commander of the livestock guard, Linus Zaki lamented about the rate at which his operatives are being killed.
“I was just being informed that some armed men attacked and killed him (Jarule Likita).
“He was the only one killed. They have been killing our personnel like that. Three of my men died about two months ago. They will just come, shoot them and go away.
“They call them gunmen, unknown gunmen that is the report reaching me. One of the murdered guards went to pick up his wife and was gunned down so also others. I do not know where these gunmen are coming from”, Zaki said.
