The commander of the Livestock Guard in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Jarule Likita, has been shot dead by armed men.

The Livestock Guards was established by the government to ensure compliance with the State Anti-open Grazing Law.

Witnesses who spoke with Daily Trust claimed that the killing of the ward commander has generated tension in the area.

Locals claimed that Likita was in charge of the Mbatian ward of Ukum LGA until he was killed.

The deceased Likita, according to local sources, died after he was shot severally in the chest by the gunmen at the Tine-Nune settlement in Ukum LGA of the state.

The killing of Likita makes him the fifth ward Livestock commander to have been murdered by such unknown gunmen in the Ukum area in recent times.

The State Commander of the Livestock Guards, Linus Zaki, while speaking on the development, put the figures of his men killed in the area recently at four.

He said, “I was just informed that some armed men attacked and killed him (Likita). Today he is the only one that was killed. They have been killing them like that. Three of my men died about two months back. They just come, fire them and go away.

“They call them gunmen, unknown gunmen that is the report reaching me. One went to pick up his wife and was gunned down so also others. I do not know where these gunmen are coming from.”