The Benue State Government has expressed condolences to the family of former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. David Salifu, who died in the early hours of Friday from gunshot injuries sustained in an attack by kidnappers.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that Salifu was shot on the outskirts of Wukari while travelling to Makurdi on Thursday.
According to a source, the kidnappers flagged down Salifu’s vehicle and attempted to abduct him.
The source added that the former SSG was shot after he refused to climb a motorcycle the kidnappers allegedly intended to use to take him away.
The deceased, a lecturer at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, served as SSG under the administration of Gabriel Suswam.
A close confidant of the former SSG and the African Democratic Congress’ Benue South senatorial candidate, David Olofu, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Friday.
According to him, the former SSG died in the early hours of Friday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
Olofu, a former Commissioner for Finance under the administration of Samuel Ortom, described the deceased as a confidant.
He said, “He (Salifu) was a member of my campaign council and a confidant. I learnt that he left Wukari and was coming to Benue when he encountered hoodlums on the outskirts of Wukari.
“They stopped his car and asked him to come down, but the bandits thereafter shot him. He was taken to the teaching hospital in Wukari but, due to the seriousness of the injury, we spoke to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Wukari, who released an ambulance to take him to Abuja with a team of doctors.
“But somehow, he was taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he died in the early hours of today.”
Meanwhile, in a condolence message issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Deborah Aber, the government described the deceased as someone who served the state with uncommon diligence, integrity and intellectual distinction.
She stated that Salifu’s contributions to public administration, scholarship and human capital development earned him widespread respect and left an enduring legacy that would continue to inspire generations.
The SSG prayed that God would grant his family the strength and comfort to bear the loss and grant the late Prof. David Salifu eternal rest.
Meanwhile, the David Olofu Campaign Organisation has suspended all political activities in honour of the former SSG.
The secretary of the campaign committee, Dr Friday Adakole, in a statement on Friday, appealed to members of the group to refrain from political campaigns in observance of the solemn day.
“Instead, you are encouraged to share dignified tributes in his memory and extend our collective sympathies to his family, to our Principal, to the Idoma Nation, and to the nation at large,” Adakole said.
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