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.

The Guardian learnt that the kidnappers got in touch with the family and a family member identified as BenJones Erukaa, was also lured on the pretext of negotiating with the family and similarly abducted and kept in custody together with their 80 years old family patriarch.

The Guardian further learnt that BenJones was freed on October 20, but Pa Erukaa was kept in custody by the kidnappers.

It could not be ascertained if ransom was paid before his release.
However, reliable sources said he met and spoke with the octogenarian in the kidnappers’ hideout before his release.

While the news of the demise of Pa Erukaa 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 the widely held assumption that Pa 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.

He appealed for cease fire, stressing that what the institute intends to do is to appeal for peace.

He said: “We have not come to apportion blame. What we have come to do is to speak to our humanity. We are aware that there is a problem between the Mbasombo and the Mbaivur communities, but there is no problem without a solution.  We are not a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO). We are an agency of the Federal Government, and we are here on behalf of the Federal Government.”

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.

The community leaders, Moses Atime and Prof. Vearum Tarhule of Mbaivur and Mbasombo, pledged the commitment of their people to the peace process.

They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to assist in the post-conflict resettlement of their people, most of whom are peasant farmers.