From Uangbaoje Alex, Benue
20 houses were reportedly burnt down on Monday by Soldiers at Sati-Agirigi settlement area on Katsina-Ala- Takum Road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State in reprisal for the killing of an Army colonel.
It was gathered that the colonel, was driving towards Takum in neighbouring Taraba State when he reportedly ran into a roadblock mounted by gunmen who shot him dead.
According to reports, on hearing about the colonel’s brutal killing, soldiers from Takum mobilised for a reprisal in the area. But in a swift reaction, Governor Samuel Ortom condemned the attack which he linked to armed robbery.
Ortom said when he got wind of the incident he quickly directed his Security Adviser, the Commissioner of Police as well as men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to move to the scene to ensure the return of peace.
The governor added that there was no cause for alarm as security operatives were on top of the situation.
He said: “Right now as I talk to you, I have sent my Security Adviser, the Commissioner of Police and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to the area to ensure that peace is restored. So there is no cause for alarm, the security operatives are already in control of the situation.”