Report reaching www.totorinews.com says a revenue collector was shot dead and three others injured on Wednesday in Benue State.

It was also  gathered that they wounded three others during the raid.

Local sources said the assailants could be members of the late criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as “Gana”. 

The assailants were also accused of murdering nine mourners on Saturday in the area.

The locals described the latest killings as a reprisal by Gana’s men, some of whom were taken out by the military who carried out an operation in the area a few days ago.

However, the military had earlier told journalists that three of Gana’s foot soldiers were neutralised on Thursday and Friday when troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) engaged the gang in a battle.

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. 

He, however, promised to fish them out.

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

He said, “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.”