The Police Command in Benue has confirmed the murder of Mr Tersoo Ahu, the Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboko South, Gboko Local Government Area by suspected hoodlums.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident in an interview on Sunday in Makurdi.
Anene said that preliminary investigation revealed that suspected hoodlums allegedly from a faction of the party in the council ward carried out the attack at the party’s registration and revalidation training centre.
She said that the deceased and other party members were at the venue of the training for the registration and revalidation exercise when the hoodlums arrived.
According to the PPRO, the chairman was hit on the head with a wood by the hoodlums, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“The youth, who claimed to be a faction within the party, mobilised and attacked the deceased on others where they were conducting training for ward and polling unit officers for the party’s registration and revalidation exercise.
“They claimed it was not the venue that they had agreed for the training of the officers.
“They came violently with stones, wood and started throwing stones; one of them hit the chairman with a wood and he fell down.
“He was rushed to the hospital where he died,” she added.
Anene further disclosed that several other people sustained various degrees of injury during the attack.
She said that the attackers would be arrested prosecuted.
In the meantime, APC has urged security agencies to investigate the alleged killing of Mr Tersoo Ahu, its Gboko South Ward Chairman, by hoodlums on Sunday in Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Mr James Ornguga, the state APC Publicity Secretary, said in Makurdi on Sunday that APC was a peaceful party.
Ornguga said that the party strongly condemned the killing which took place at the APC membership registration/revalidation training center for ward and polling units officers.
He said the deceased and other party supporters were attacked while they were engaged in the training ahead of the membership registration/ revalidation exercise.
“We strongly condenmed the killing of our ward chairman. APC is a very peaceful party and we don’t believe in violence.
“So wherever this is coming from, the party frowns at it. We call on the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.
The police command in Benue had earlier confirmed the killing of Ahu by hoodlums at the training centre.