Suspected political thugs, on Wednesday reportedly killed Igbu Job Terhemen, Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiidi Council Ward, Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Terhemen, according to reports, was attacked at about 2am by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly tied him with ropes, injected him with substances suspected to be poisonous before abandoning him near his residence around the NNPC depot along Makurdi-Otukpo Road.
A friend of the deceased, who doesn’t want to be quoted, said 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.
Family members and friends became worried after the deceased failed to return and subsequently started searching for him.
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.
“All that is left for the police to uncover in the course of their investigation because this is a sad development in the state.”
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the party condemned the alleged killing and called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding Terhemen’s death.
In a statement issued by the party’s state spokesman, Agile Bem, the NDC described the deceased as a committed member who contributed significantly to the growth of the party in the state.
The statement 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 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.”
Reacting to the incident, the State Chairman of the party, Mr. 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 statement added that the deceased 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 police in Benue are yet to issue an official statement in respect to the development.
