Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The family of a 32-year-old man, Nura Hudu, is demanding justice after he was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, over an outstanding debt of N80,000 arising from a failed business transaction. The incident, which occurred on July 22, 2026, has sparked outrage and raised fresh concerns over the rise of mob violence and extrajudicial killings in the state. Hudu, a father of three whose wife is five months pregnant, was reportedly assaulted on the orders of a woman identified as Mrs. Winifred Terngu, following a dispute over a fertiliser business deal.
According to the family, Hudu had entered into a transaction worth N150,000 with Mrs. Terngu and had already paid N70,000, leaving an outstanding balance of N80,000. A family source told SaharaReporters that the deceased was killed by some youths in Makurdi on July 22, 2026, on the instruction of a Tiv woman over a transaction of N150,000. “He paid her N70,000, so the balance was N80,000. He died and left behind a wife and three children,” the source said. The family identified two alleged eyewitnesses as Abubakar Abuna and Isa Danbala, who reportedly witnessed the assault.
According to the family’s account, Mrs. Terngu allegedly instructed some youths to assault Hudu over the unpaid balance, resulting in injuries that later claimed his life. The assault left Hudu unconscious, and the police from B Division Police Station, High Level, Makurdi, were called to the scene to pick him up. He later died at the station, according to the family. “The DPO of B Division Police Station, High Level, Makurdi, had been calling the woman. She answered at first but later switched off her phone,” the source said. “The police know her because after the boys finished beating him until he became unconscious, they called the police from B Division, which is very close to the scene, to pick him up.”
The family subsequently refused to collect Hudu’s body from the police and instead reported the matter to the Sarkin Hausawa and the Benue State Police Command Headquarters in Makurdi. The police then took the corpse to the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi. In an open letter dated July 25, 2026, addressed to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Inspector-General of Police, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, and other authorities, the family expressed profound concern and disappointment over the continued silence of the relevant authorities. The letter, signed by the extended family of the late Nura Hudu and the group Patriotic Wadata Youths, demanded an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The family called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the brutal killing; the identification, arrest and prosecution of all persons found culpable; and the keeping of the family and the general public informed of the progress and outcome of the investigation. Flyers circulating on social media have also called for justice, with one reading: “Brutally Beaten to Death. No human being deserves to die this way. Nura was allegedly subjected to a merciless assault that ended his life, leaving behind a grieving family, shocked friends, and a community demanding answers.” Another flyer noted that Hudu is survived by a five-month-pregnant wife and three children, urging the Benue State Government and security agencies to intervene and asking, “How many more must die before justice is served?”
SaharaReporters’ attempts to obtain a response from Mrs. Winifred Terngu were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone went unanswered and repeated WhatsApp messages had not received a reply. The Benue State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. The killing has once again highlighted the dangerous trend of mob violence and the failure of law enforcement to protect citizens from such brutality. As the family and community continue to demand justice, the question remains: how many more must die before the authorities take decisive action to end the cycle of violence?
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