A tragic incident has occurred in Benue State, Nigeria, where the chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area, Igbu Terhemen, was killed by suspected hoodlums. According to reports, Terhemen was attacked and left unconscious in a bush near his residence around the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital, on Tuesday evening.
A friend of the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Terhemen had left his residence on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match in the Kanshio area of the town. Family members and friends became worried after he failed to return home and subsequently began searching for him. His body was discovered around 2am on Wednesday in a bush near his residence, unconscious, with a needle-like injury on his body.
The NDC, in a statement issued by its state Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, on Wednesday, condemned the killing, describing Terhemen as a committed member who contributed significantly to the growth of the party in the state. The statement said Terhemen was reportedly attacked by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly tied him with ropes, injected him with substances suspected to be poisonous, and abandoned him near his residence.
The state chairman of the party, Ohini Ojegbe, described the killing as a “broad-daylight evil” and called on security agencies to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Ojegbe urged the security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the alleged killing and ensure that they were brought to justice.
The party said Terhemen was “a committed and dedicated party member whose contributions to the growth of the NDC would be greatly missed, particularly at a time when his service and commitment were most needed.” The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for swift action to be taken against the perpetrators.
However, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command had yet to receive a report on the incident. The police have yet to comment on the investigation, but it is expected that they will launch a probe into the killing.
The killing of Terhemen has raised concerns about the security situation in Benue State, with many questioning the ability of the authorities to protect citizens. The incident has also sparked fears of a rise in violence in the state, with many calling for calm and urging the authorities to take action to prevent further incidents.
Key points
- The NDC chairman was killed by suspected hoodlums who allegedly injected him with a poisonous substance.
- The party has condemned the killing and called for an investigation into the incident.
- The police have yet to comment on the investigation, but it is expected that they will launch a probe into the killing.
