The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Food Council Ward, Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen, has reportedly died after being attacked by unknown assailants.
Terhemen was allegedly found unconscious in a bush near his residence around the NNPC Depot along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital.
A friend of the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Terhemen left his home on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match in the Kanshio area but failed to return.
According to the friend, relatives and friends became concerned and 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 2am Wednesday in a bush near his residence unconscious,” the friend said.
He said Terhemen died before he could receive medical attention.
The friend also said the deceased’s mobile phone was found on him and had not been taken, while a needle-like injury was reportedly noticed on his body.
He suggested that the injury could indicate that Terhemen was injected with a substance before being abandoned, but stressed that the circumstances surrounding his death would have to be established by the police.
The reported killing has sparked concern among members of the NDC, with the party’s Benue State chapter calling for an investigation.
In a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, the NDC described Terhemen as a committed member who contributed to the growth of the party in the state.
The party alleged that Terhemen had been attacked by suspected hoodlums, who allegedly tied him up, injected him with a substance suspected to be poisonous and abandoned him near his residence.
The statement said he was later found in an almost unconscious state and was unable to speak or communicate before his death.
The state chairman of the party, Ohini Ojegbe, described the incident as a “broad-daylight evil” and called on security agencies to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding Terhemen’s death.
Ojegbe urged the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible 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”.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command had not received a report of the incident.
