TDThe Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the death of its Fiidi Council Ward Chairman in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Igbu Terhemen, following an alleged attack by unidentified assailants.
Terhemen was reportedly found unconscious in a bush near his residence around the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to a friend of the deceased who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, Terhemen left his residence on Tuesday evening to watch a local football match around the Kanshio area but did not return home.
Family members and friends subsequently began searching for him.
The source said Terhemen was eventually found at about 2am in a bush near his residence in an unconscious condition.
He reportedly died before he could receive medical attention.
The source further alleged that Terhemen’s phone was found on him, suggesting that his attackers had not taken it.
There was also reportedly a needle-like injury on his body, raising suspicions that an unidentified substance may have been injected into him.
NDC Condemns Death
The Benue State chapter of the NDC condemned what it described as the killing of its ward chairman.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, said Terhemen was allegedly attacked by suspected hoodlums, tied with ropes, injected with substances suspected to be poisonous and abandoned near his residence.
According to the statement, Terhemen 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 serious development and called on security agencies to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
Ojegbe urged the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible and ensure that they face justice.
The party described Terhemen as a committed member who contributed to the growth of the NDC in Benue State.
Police Yet to Receive Formal Report
However, the Benue State Police Command said it had not received a formal report concerning the incident as of the time the reports were published.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed that the command was yet to receive a report.
The circumstances surrounding Terhemen’s death therefore remain subject to investigation, and the allegations concerning how he was attacked have not been independently established.
The incident comes amid heightened political activity in Benue ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier in September, the NDC had reported the disruption of Peter Obi’s visit to Benue, while Premium Times subsequently reported that the party had notified the police ahead of the visit.
The latest incident has renewed calls from the NDC for security agencies to investigate the death and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
