Benue commissioner on the run over alleged killing of varsity lecturer

Barely five months after a member of the Benue State Executive Council and Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom, was butted out of office for his alleged involvement in the brutal killing of the governor’s Special Assistant on Security, Mr. Denen Igbana, another member of the executive and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sekav Iortyom, is said to be at large, for his alleged killing of a university lecturer, Wilfred Tondo.

Sources at the court that pleaded anonymity told The Guardian that Mr. Iortyom, who was invited for interrogation by the police headquarters, Makurdi, a few weeks ago, was allowed to go home on self recognition.

But he failed to turn up when the case was mentioned for hearing on Wednesday.

According to the source: “The murder case of a lecturer in Buruku held in this court, three persons among them, the newly appointed sole administrator were arraigned in this court while others were said to be at large. Only the name of Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sekav Iortyom was mentioned among those at large.”

The Guardian learnt that the commissioner was, in late August this year, invited and interrogated by the police in connection with the murder of the lecturer.

The deceased, Aondosoo Wilfred Tondoo was a teacher at the Department of Political Science, University of Mkar. He was killed in the early hours of August 11, 2016.

The acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Bem Melladu, when approached on the whereabouts of the commissioner, said he was not aware the commissioner was at large but confirmed that he was interrogated by the police sometime ago.

“I cannot say whether the commissioner ran away as being alleged but I am aware that he was invited and interrogated by the police in August this year.
“Why should he run away?” he queried.

“Unfortunately, we are not having a state executive council meeting today (Wednesday) hence, I would have known whether he is around or not,” he added.