Tragedy struck in Benue State on Wednesday as unidentified attackers reportedly murdered Igbu Job Terhemen, who served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Fiidi Council Ward in the Makurdi Local Government Area.
Terhemen was said to have been attacked at about 2:00am by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly tied him with ropes, injected him with substances suspected to be poisonous and abandoned him near his residence around the NNPC depot along Makurdi-Otukpo Road.
He was reportedly found in an almost unconscious state and unable to speak or communicate before he eventually died.
A friend of the deceased, who preferred anonymity, told journalists in Makurdi, that Terhemen left his residence on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match in the Kanshio axis of the town but did not return home.
Bayelsa evacuates lunatics from streets
He said, “He left home to watch the match Tuesday evening and he was expected back home, but nobody saw him. It was while people were looking around for him that he was discovered around 2am Wednesday in a bush near his residence unconscious.
“Unfortunately, he died before he could get medical attention. Strangely, his attackers did not take his phone, which was discovered on him when he was taken to the morgue.
“There was also a needle-like injury on his body, indicating that he could have been injected with a substance by his attackers, dumped in the bush and left to die.”
Reacting to the incident, the state chairman of the NDC, Ohini Ojegbe, described the killing as a “broad-daylight evil” and called on security agencies to urgently investigate the incident.
Ojegbe urged the security agencies to arrest those responsible for the alleged killing and ensure they were brought to justice.
The party in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, described Terhemen as a committed and dedicated member whose contributions to the growth of the NDC would be greatly missed.
The NDC expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, the Fiidi community and members of the party, praying God to comfort them and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command was yet to receive a report on the incident.
What You Should Know
The brutal killing of a local political party official in Benue State has raised serious concerns regarding public safety, political violence, and the security of grassroots politicians in the region.
- Positive Impact: Swift condemnation from party leaders and calls for immediate police intervention could prompt heightened security measures and a more thorough investigation into rising local crimes.
- Potential Concerns: The incident highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities and the risk of politically motivated violence, potentially creating fear and apprehension among residents and political actors in the area.
