A former chairman of Ukum Local Council, Iorwashima Erukaa, in Benue State, who was kidnapped a few weeks ago, has been killed.
Erukaa was kidnapped a day after his kinsman, Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mathew Abo, was abducted.
Both of them were kidnapped at Zaki Biam, the headquarters of Ukum Local Council about a month ago.
It was not yet certain whether both were abducted by the same group, but the commissioner was released after 10 days in captivity, while the former council boss remained in captivity until the news of his death filtered out yesterday.
Family sources said they were informed that the old man passed away one week earlier, Sunday, October 22.
The source said contrary to assumption that Mr Erukaa was killed by his abductors, the old man died in his sleep, “although in the custody of his abductors”.
When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to be briefed on the development, but Channels Television Presenter, Charles Erukaa, who is the eldest son of the late council boss confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, the Federal government has waded into the communal clashes between the Mbaivur and the Mbasombo communities in Gwer East Local Council of Benue State.
Director, Internal Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Emmanuel Mamman, disclosed this during a parley for the warring communities tagged: “Peace Advocacy /Sensitisation in Mbaivur – Mbasombo communities” in Makurdi.
House of Representatives member for Gwer/Gwer West Federal constituency, Asema Achado, told his constituents that even among family members, there are bound to be misunderstandings, and also appealed for peace.
They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to assist in the post-conflict resettlement of their people, most of whom are peasant farmers.