The chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiidi Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Igbu Terhemen, has been killed after he was found unconscious in a bush near his residence.

Terhemen was reportedly attacked by suspected hoodlums on Tuesday evening and discovered around 2am on Wednesday near the NNPC Depot, along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi.

A friend of the deceased, who spoke anonymously, said Terhemen had left his residence on Tuesday to watch a local football match in the Kanshio area.

According to the source, concern grew after Terhemen failed to return home, prompting relatives and friends to begin searching for him.

He was subsequently found unconscious in a bush close to his residence in the early hours of Wednesday.

The source said Terhemen died before he could receive medical treatment, adding that his mobile phone and other belongings were reportedly found with him.

The friend also claimed that a needle-like injury was noticed on the deceased’s body, raising suspicion that he may have been injected with an unknown substance before being abandoned.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, while the identity and motive of the attackers are yet to be established.

Reacting to the incident, the Benue State chapter of the NDC condemned the killing and described Terhemen as a dedicated member who contributed to the growth of the party.

In a statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem, the party alleged that Terhemen was tied with ropes and injected with substances suspected to be poisonous before being abandoned near his residence.

The party said he was found in an almost unconscious condition and could neither speak nor communicate before his death.

The state NDC chairman, Ohini Ojegbe, described the incident as a “broad-daylight evil” and urged security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Ojegbe also called for the identification and arrest of those responsible for the incident and their prosecution.

The party said Terhemen’s contributions would be greatly missed, particularly at a time when his services were considered important to the party.

However, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the command had not received any report concerning the incident.