Suspected hoodlums have reportedly killed the chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen.
Sources said Terhemen was allegedly attacked and abandoned unconscious in a bush close to 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 requested anonymity, disclosed that Terhemen had left his home on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match around the Kanshio area of the town.
According to the friend, “When he did not return, family members and friends became worried and subsequently began searching for him.
“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 2 am 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.
“All that is left for the police to uncover in the course of their investigation, because this is a sad development in the state.”
The party, meanwhile, in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, on Wednesday, mourned the deceased and described him as a dedicated member who played an important role in advancing the party’s activities in the state.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Benue State chapter, has condemned the gruesome murder of Hon. Igbu Terhemen, who, until his death, was the NDC chairman of Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area.
“Hon. Igbu 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 at around NNPC Depot along Makurdi-Otukpo Road.
“He was later found in an almost unconscious state and was reportedly unable to speak or communicate with anyone before he eventually passed away.”
The state chairman of the party, Mr Ohini Ojegbe, also condemned the incident, describing the killing as a “broad-daylight evil” and urging security agencies to immediately investigate what led to the incident.
Ojegbe called on the relevant authorities to track down and arrest those allegedly involved in the killing and ensure they face justice.
The statement further described the deceased as “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.”
However, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command had not received any report concerning the incident.
