NDC Chairman murdered in Makurdi after suspected attack

By Johnson Arua

The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Igbu Job Terhemen, has reportedly died after he was allegedly attacked and abandoned unconscious in a bush near his residence.

Terhemen was reportedly found in the bush around the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, after he failed to return home from a local football match.

Sources close to the deceased said he was last seen on Tuesday evening when he left his residence to watch a football match in the Kanshio area of the state capital.

A friend of the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said concern was raised when Terhemen failed to return home after the match.

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 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 development has triggered condemnation from the Benue State chapter of the NDC, which described the death of its ward chairman as a painful loss to the party.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Agile Bem, the NDC said Terhemen was allegedly attacked by suspected hoodlums who tied him with ropes, injected him with substances suspected to be poisonous and abandoned him close to his residence.

The statement read in part: “The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Benue State Chapter, has condemned the gruesome murder of Hon. Igbu Job 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 NDC, Mr. Ohini Ojegbe, described the incident as a “broad-daylight evil” and called for an immediate investigation.

Ojegbe urged security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, identify those behind it and bring them to justice.

The party chairman said the deceased would be greatly missed, describing him as a committed member who played an active role in the growth of the party in Benue State.

The NDC said, “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 party expressed sympathy to Terhemen’s immediate family, the Fiidi community and members of the NDC, while praying for God to give them the strength to bear the loss.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command said it had not received an official report concerning the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, who confirmed this when contacted, said the command was yet to receive the report.