The chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen, has reportedly been killed by suspected hoodlums.
Terhemen was said to have been attacked on Tuesday evening before he was discovered unconscious in a bush close to his residence near the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi.
According to a friend of the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Terhemen had gone out to watch a local football match in the Kanshio area but did not return home as expected.
The friend said, “When he did not return, family members and friends became worried and subsequently began searching for him.
“He left home to watch the match on 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 on 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 Benue State chapter of the NDC has since condemned the alleged killing, describing Terhemen as a committed party member whose contributions to the organisation were significant.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the state Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, the party said, “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 the 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 party’s state chairman, Ohini Ojegbe, described the killing as a “broad-daylight evil” and urged security authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Terhemen’s death.
Ojegbe further demanded that those behind the alleged attack be identified and arrested, adding that they should face prosecution in line with the law.
The NDC also mourned Terhemen 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.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command had not received any report regarding the alleged incident.
Benue: Unknown hoodlums kill NDC chairman, dump body in Makurdi bush