A tragic wave of violence struck Benue State again on Saturday evening as gunmen ambushed the convoy of Prince Shimapever Jiji, the lawmaker representing Logo State Constituency in the **Benue State House of Assembly, killing a former councilor, identified as Tsebee, and leaving several others injured. The attack, which took place at Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area, has reignited growing concerns about the rising trend of political assassinations and the deepening insecurity plaguing Nigeria.
According to community sources, the lawmaker had travelled to Tombu Council Ward to commiserate with families who lost loved ones in an earlier attack that claimed three lives on Thursday. However, while returning from the visit, the convoy reportedly came under intense gunfire from heavily armed men, leading to chaos and casualties. “The assailants, who appeared to have laid an ambush, opened fire the moment they sighted the convoy,” a local source said. “The former councilor was hit and died instantly, while several others sustained gunshot injuries.”
Logo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Clement Kav, confirmed the attack and strongly condemned the killing, describing it as another sad reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the region. He revealed that he narrowly escaped being caught in the incident, saying he was supposed to be part of the lawmaker’s entourage but had to attend an urgent meeting with the governor. “Our son came home to console grieving families, only for me to hear moments later that his convoy was attacked at Anyiin,” Kav said. “This is barbaric and unacceptable. We urge security agencies to track down and prosecute those behind this heinous crime.”
The latest attack in Benue adds to the growing list of politically motivated killings and targeted ambushes that have rocked various parts of Nigeria in recent times. Observers warn that as the 2027 elections draw nearer, political rivalries are becoming deadlier, with many attacks disguised as acts of banditry or communal violence.
Across the country, a disturbing pattern has emerged politicians, aides, and local party officials are increasingly being targeted in what appears to be an orchestrated campaign of intimidation and elimination. In recent months, gunmen have attacked political figures in Kogi, Imo, Enugu, Plateau, and now Benue, with many victims left dead and their killers never apprehended. Security analysts say this alarming development points to a breakdown of intelligence and enforcement within Nigeria’s security framework.
A political risk expert, Dr. Godwin Uche, described the situation as a dangerous evolution of Nigeria’s political culture. “What we are witnessing is not just insecurity it’s the weaponization of politics,” he said. “Power contests are now being settled with bullets rather than ballots. The lack of justice in previous killings has emboldened more actors to resort to violence as a political strategy.”
Benue, long troubled by ommunal clashes and herder-farmer conflicts, is now grappling with a new dimension of politically charged violence. The attack on Hon. Jiji’s convoy underscores how easily insecurity can be exploited for political purposes, with devastating consequences for democracy and governance.
Unless decisive action is taken by federal and state authorities to protect public officials and restore law and order, experts warn that Nigeria may be heading toward an era where political assassinations become normalized a scenario that would threaten not only political stability but also the country’s already fragile democracy.
