By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
Tuesday will forever remain memorable in the hearts of the people of Anyiin and especially the immediate family of the late Chief Terkula Suswam, the elder brother to Senator Gabriel Suswam, who was brutally murdered by unknown gunmen who shot him from the back, head and waist.
Anyiin is a sleepy town located on Abinse-Tyulen-Wukari road, whose inhabitants are predominately farmers, but which has become synonymous with Suswam Tingir Dom Agya family, who founded it more than 100 years.
Nobody expected the tragic event of Tuesday because shortly after his younger brother, former Governor Gabriel finished his eight years of two terms in office as governor of Benue State, the late Chief Terkula Suswam retired to his Anyiin country home, where he engaged in community and humanitarian service.
Some of the townsmen who spoke to The Nation suggested that it was an insiders’ job. They argued that someone within Anyiin may have betrayed Chief Suswam because it was difficult for a stranger to drive all the way from Ugba, headquarters of Logo Local Government and carry out such crime without inner collaborations.
Those who recalled his last days testified to his good works, especially humanitarian services, where he paid medical bills for his people, provided portable drinking water and opening up of access roads in Anyiin. These were aside payment of school fees for indigent students.
It was therefore difficult to comprehend why and who killed Chief Suswam.
So many questions without answers, just as the pains, emotion and grief continued throughout Sankera geo-political zone and the entire Benue State.
The house of the chief mourner, Senator Gabriel Suswam, in Makurdi has suddenly become a beehive of activities, with sympathisers trooping in and out in their numbers.
The widow, Ochanya Suswam, appeared stupefied and could hardly utter a word.
Who killed the illuminator?
Chief Terkula Suswam holds the Tiv honorific chieftaincy title of “Zege – Iwanger- I- Tiv (Great illuminations of Tiv people) for his massive humanitarian works across Benue State.
He was a harmless personality, and easy going, who kept his door open for 24 hours just to help anyone in need .
He established several businesses, which cut across education, radio, printing press and photo laboratories, through which he empowered many young men and women.
Amidst the insecurity that has engulfed the entire Sankera geo-political zone, before and after the killing of criminal gang leader Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, many swore they would never have contemplated Chief Terkula Suswam being killed in such a manner, because he never contested any election or nursed any such ambition.
He hardly joined public debates, preferring his quite Anyiin life, far away from the state capital.
There are those who believe that his killers could not get at his younger brother, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and thus settled for the illuminator. Even then, they wonder how being a brother to a former governor and senator could be an offence.
These are question security agencies would have to unravel.
Already, the Benue State Government has pledged a N5m reward for anyone that can lead to the arrest of his killers.
Will his killers be fish out or will it remain unresolved murder like that Hon. Atodza Hidan and other? Only time will tell.
How Chief Suswam was killed
According to those who witnessed his last moments, the Chief Executive Officer of Ashitech Conglomerate, Chief Dr Terkura Suswam, supervised the construction of drainage and the painting of a security post directly opposite the main gate of his palatial Anyiin house most of the day he was murdered.
At the close of day, he sat within the premises of Elohim Plaza, also his property, nearby and sorted out the labourers.
One of his close aides, Solomon Utanor, was still with him after others had left. The time was about 8 pm on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021.
An eyewitness, Mr Elijah Iorkyaa, who said he sat at a nearby drinking spot opposite the Plaza, stated that some people came in a car and parked close to the joint, which made him think they had come to drink.
“But when I observed closely, I think they were three in the car, but only one of them came down with a gun and quickly crossed the road in a bent posture and was moving towards where Chief Dr Suswam was sitting,” he said.
“I shouted and called Solomon to alert him that someone was approaching with a gun and he rushed to close the gate but it was too late, the gunman shot him in the stomach and Chief Dr Suswam who was nearby on the chest and back several times.”
The witness stated that the chief collapsed and died at the spot while Solomon ran out and collapsed nearby.
Another eyewitness, Donald Mngutor, Chairman of the Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation in the area corroborated the account, adding that the gunmen came through Ugba-Anyiin road and exited through the same route.
He said the bottle of water, which Chief Suswam had; his telephones and walking stick were later picked up at the scene while his body was deposited at NKST Hospital, Anyiin.
Meanwhile, residents of Anyiin are lamenting the loss of a man they described as “a true community leader and bridge builder.”
Former Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Benue, Mr Anum Iho, said the Tiv nation and Benue has lost a rare gem.
Iho described the deceased as a “true community leader and selfless person”.
He disclosed that few days ago, a letter was dropped inside the compound of the deceased, stating that they would kill Senator Gabriel Suswam, Engineer Cephas Suswam or him.
Head of Tingir family, Mr Joseph Tingir, who is the administrator of NKST Hospital, Anyiin, said he received the sad news of his brother’s death with shock and disbelief.
“When I heard the news, I did not believe it. I thought it was not possible for gunmen to carry out attacks in our community in that manner.”
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