MAKURDI, Nigeria — Tension is rising in Benue State following the disappearance of two people, including a senior aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia.
One of the missing, Atu Terver, the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilisation, was last seen on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, while travelling from Makurdi to Abuja.
His wife, Civir Terver, confirmed to reporters that he never arrived at his destination.
“He left Makurdi on Tuesday and was coming to see us in Abuja but did not show up. The case was reported at the police station in Abuja, and they told us that they were investigating it. As of today, I am yet to get any useful information about his whereabouts,” she said.
She added that she had not received any contact from her husband’s employer.
The second disappearance involves Asom Jerry, a social media activist whose case has sparked widespread debate online.
Some commentators allege that Jerry was arrested by police, while others say his location remains unknown.
When asked, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, denied knowledge of Jerry’s alleged arrest and clarified that Terver’s disappearance occurred outside Benue jurisdiction.
“I don’t have any information on the alleged arrest of the social media activist as I am just hearing of it from you. Regarding Governor Alia’s appointee, it happened in Abuja, not in Benue State,” she said.
Efforts to reach the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Terso, were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Austin Agada has criticised the state government’s response, describing it as silence in the face of public concern. In a statement signed by Publicity Secretary Daniel Ihomun, the group expressed alarm at the two cases.
“The sudden disappearance of notable Benue citizens, including activist and fierce government critic, Asom Jerry, and the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilisation, Atu Terver, popularly known as Krazy T, has created deep fear and uncertainty among our people.
These incidents strike at the heart of public trust in government and the security agencies mandated to protect citizens,” the statement read.
The faction condemned what it called the “insensitivity and inaction” of the Alia administration and urged security agencies to intensify investigations.
It also called on the state government to “speak up, act responsibly, and provide credible information to reassure the people that their lives and rights are valued and protected.”
As investigations continue, both cases remain unresolved, leaving families and communities searching for answers.
