By Olikita Ekani
(Maiduguri) “No need bringing the money to rescue me, they have concluded to kill me, have already removed both my eyes and arms. Just keep the money and use it to prepare for my burial and take care of my family,” were Mr Terzungwe’s last words to his family before his death on Jan. 6, 2025.
Inhabitants of Akor and other Communities in Nzorov Precinct, Guma County of Benue State are deserting their homes following the killing of Mr Terzungwe Shaku by Fulani kidnappers after collecting ransom from his relatives.
Mr Shaku, a beer vendor at Akor local market, was kidnapped on New Year’s Day, 2025 and was gruesomely murdered on Monday, January 6, 2025, by his abductors despite payment of $3,511 (N5.4M) ransom.
Residents speak out
A farmer and a resident of Akor village, Samuel Tivta Aondohemba, gave a heart-rending narration of the gruesome murder to TruthNigeria by telephone.
“I am a resident of Nzorov, and my farm is located at Akor where the incident took place,” he said.
“It is indeed true that Mr Terzungwe, who was kidnapped on New Day has been found dead despite payment of ransom by his family for his freedom.
“In the last call, his younger brother, Shaku Junior received, the kidnappers, who spoke in Fulfulde and Hausa (languages commonly spoken by Nigerian Fulani tribesmen), asked the deceased’s family to pay $19,500 (N30,000,000 in Nigeria currency) but Shaku Junior responded that, the family could only afford $3,511 USD (N5.4m).
“A few minutes later, the abductors called Shaku Junior to bring the money ($3,511) to a designated location.
“The kidnappers also gave Terzungwe his phone to talk to his people while they continued beating him. He was heard, crying out loud as he made this last statement before giving up the ghost: “No need bringing the money to rescue me, they have concluded to kill me, they have already removed both eyes and arms, just use the money to prepare for my burial and take care of my family.”
“The kidnappers directed Shaku Jr. to meet his brother, Terzungwe at a particular location, 30 minutes after the money and other items were handed to them. Shaku Jr went to the location only to find his brother’s corpse,” Aondohemba said.
On whether there is presence of security agencies in the affected communities, Aondohemba said. “There were Nigerian Army personnel stationed in Nzorov before, but they have all been withdrawn, leaving the people vulnerable to all forms of insecurity,” he added.
“As I am talking to you, our people are running helter skelter, leaving Akor, Ormia, other villages within Nzorov Precinct and relocating to safer villages. I wish to call on the State and Federal governments to quickly deploy military to the restive communities in order to stabilize the situation”, Aondohemba concluded.
Another farmer and fish seller, Mrs Naruba Ikwulono gave a similar story.
“Before the kidnapping and eventual killing of Terzungwe, Fulani kidnappers had earlier abducted and killed an Igbo trader, Uche, an action that had created an existing tension before the latest one.
“I just relocated from Akor village to Makurdi with my children and we won’t go back soon until things return back to normal,” Ikwulono said.
Attempts to hear the government version of the story proved abortive as calls through the phone lines to Guma County Chairman, Orwough Maurice, were not answered.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP) Catherine Anene said to TruthNigeria she heard about the kidnapping and gruesome murder of Terzungwe Shaku, but the Command had yet to be briefed officially by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Nzorov.
“Yes, I heard about the abduction and murder of the man, but Nzorov DPO hasn’t briefed me. I tried to reach him but to no avail as his line couldn’t be reached”, Officer Anene said.
Catholics are the most affected: Rev. Fr Remigius Ihyula
The people of Guma, a county that includes the capital of Makurdi, have suffered 119 attacks, including 414 deaths and more than 100 rapes or kidnappings from January 2022 to December 2023, according to Reverend Father Remigius Ihyula, Coordinator, for Foundation for Justice Development and Peace in Makurdi.
“The Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) come from places as far away as the Republic of Niger or the northern states of Sokoto or Katsina. They travel all the way down disguised as nomads in search of foliage for their flock but acting like jihadists, propagating Islam as an ideology. They are armed with heavy weapons, destroying entire villages in surprise attacks and disrupting economic and social activities with no clear reaction from the Nigerian government,” said Fr Remigius.
He added that FEM are also paid agents of land grabbing, terrorism and subjugation of the natives. “In the past, the conflict over grazing lands never saw the killings and destruction witnessed today. Before, there was no intention to occupy and displace communities as is being done now. There were also mechanisms for peaceful resolutions and amicable settlements in place, none of which are present today,” the priest told TruthNigeria.
“The Fulani herdsmen are overwhelmingly Muslim, whereas the settled farming communities are generally Christian. In other parts of Nigeria, the attacks have been described as selectively aimed at Christians, confirming a religious element to the violence, Fr Remigius said.
Gruesome murders of this nature by armed Fulani terrorists have been taking place in scores of communities in the Northcentral Nigeria but go either unreported or underreported by mainstream media in Nigeria
Olikita Ekani is a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria.
