A tax collector and three other persons have been shot to death by unknown gunmen at Imande Kundi village in Mbacher Council Ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State on Wednesday March 2.

Villàgers alleged that the murderers are members of the late criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza popularly known as “Gana” who was also fingered in the murder of nine mourners on Saturday at the same council area. The locals believed that the fresh killings of innocent villagers were a reprisal of Gana’s men taken out by the military who carried out an operation in the area a few days ago.

The military had earlier told newsmen that three of Gana’s henchmen were neutralised on Thursday and Friday respectively when troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) encountered the gang in a gun battle, denied the claim.

Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Kevin Aligbe, said the military operation carried out in the vicinity had nothing to do with what the gunmen did, as he stressed that the criminals were bent on causing unrest in the area while he promised to fish out all of them.

Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Alfred Atera, who confirmed the latest incident to journalists in Makurdi, however, said the matter had been reported to the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officers of the area.

“It is true that some bandits this afternoon (Wednesday) between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm attacked the same area where they killed mourners on Saturday and killed four people.

One of the people they killed is a tax collector and I have reported the case to the Area Commander and the DPO of Katsina-Ala.” Atera said