Loading ...MAKURDI — The volatile border corridors linking the North-Central and North-East regions have claimed another high-profile casualty. Prof. David Salifu, the former Secretary to the Benue State Government (SSG), has died following a violent encounter with suspected kidnappers along the Wukari axis in Taraba State.
The academic and statesman reportedly succumbed to severe gunshot injuries late Thursday night at a tertiary medical facility in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he had been rushed for emergency clinical intervention.
The Ambush and Fatal Escape
Preliminary field reports indicate that the incident occurred on Thursday, July 2, 2026, while Prof. Salifu was transit-bound to Makurdi. His vehicle was intercepted by heavily armed non-state actors operating along the notorious Wukari highway—a transit route increasingly plagued by asymmetric warfare and criminal syndicates.
- The Attack: The gunmen opened fire on the vehicle in an attempt to force a halt and abduct the occupants.
- The Escape: Demonstrating immense bravery under fire, the former SSG managed to maneuver the vehicle through the ambush despite sustaining multiple high-velocity bullet wounds.
- Clinical Demise: While he successfully crossed state lines into Benue and was evacuated to a hospital facility, medical operatives were unable to stabilize his condition due to excessive blood loss and trauma. He was officially confirmed dead hours later.
Administrative Silence and Regional Insecurity
At the time of filing this report, institutional silence persists from formal security apparatuses. Neither the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Benue State Command nor the counterpart authority in Taraba State has issued an official brief or casualty confirmation.
Security analysts note that the Wukari-Makurdi transit corridor represents a complex logistical challenge for the joint-task force commands, as criminal syndicates routinely exploit jurisdictional boundaries between the two states to evade kinetic military responses. The assassination of Prof. Salifu is expected to intensify pressure on both the Taraba and Benue state executives to establish more robust border-patrol integration.
