Benue NDC Ward Chairman Dies After Alleged Attack, Party Demands Probe
The death of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chairman of Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen, has raised fresh concerns over the circumstances surrounding attacks on political and community figures in the state.
Terhemen reportedly died after he was found unconscious near his residence around the NNPC Depot area along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road. The NDC said he was allegedly attacked, tied with ropes and injected with a substance suspected to be poisonous before being abandoned.
According to reports, the deceased had reportedly left home on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match around Kanshio but failed to return. Family members and friends subsequently began searching for him before he was reportedly found in an unconscious condition in the early hours of Wednesday.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, with the allegations against the unidentified attackers yet to be independently established. A report citing the Benue State Police Command said the police had not received a formal report on the incident at the time of filing, with the command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirming that position.
Reacting to the development, the NDC Benue State chapter condemned the death and called on security agencies to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
The party’s State Chairman, Ohini Ojegbe, described the killing as a “broad-daylight evil” and said Terhemen would be greatly missed by the party and the Fiidi community. The NDC also described the deceased as a committed member who contributed to the development of its grassroots structure.
The incident has consequently placed attention on the need for authorities to establish what happened to Terhemen, determine whether his death resulted from a criminal attack and identify those responsible. A transparent investigation could also provide answers to his family, political associates and residents of the community.
The NDC has extended its condolences to Terhemen’s family, the Fiidi community and its members across Benue State, while urging the relevant authorities to act swiftly and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death are properly established.
