According to reports, suspected thugs assassinated Igbu Terhemen, the leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Fiidi Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State.
Before being found comatose in a bush near his home near the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, Terhemen was reportedly attacked on Tuesday nite.
Terhemen went out to watch a local football game in the Kanshio region, but he did not return home as expected, according to a friend of the deceased who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the buddy, “family members and friends became concerned and started looking for him when he did not return.”
He was supposed to return home after leaving to watch the play on Tuesday nite, but no one saw him. Around two in the morning on Wednesday, he was found unconscious in a bush close to his home when people were searching for him.
Sadly, he passed away before receiving medical care. His phone was found on him when he was brought to the mortuary, which is odd because his attackers failed to remove it.
Additionally, he had a needle-like wound on his torso, suggesting that his assailants may have given him a drug injection before abandoning him to perish in the jungle.
“This is a sad development in the state, and all that is left for the police to uncover during their investigation.”
Since then, the NDC’s Benue State chapter has denounced the purported murder and described Terhemen as a devoted party member who made substantial contributions to the group.
“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,” the party said in a statement issued on Wednesday by state Publicity Secretary Agile Bem.
“Suspected thugs allegedly attacked Hon. Igbu, tying him with ropes, injecting him with potentially toxic drugs, and abandoning him close to his home near the NNPC Depot on Makurdi-Otukpo Road.
“He was reportedly unable to speak or communicate with anyone before he eventually passed away and was later discovered in an almost unconscious state.”
Ohini Ojegbe, the party’s state chairman, called the murder a “broad-daylight evil” and called on security officials to look into Terhemen’s death as soon as possible.
Ojegbe further insisted that the perpetrators of the alleged attack be located, detained, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Terhemen was also lamented by the NDC 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.”
DSP Peter Aondongu, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, stated that the command has not heard anything about the purported event.