KIDNAPPED EX-BENUE LG BOSS, TSE-ERUKAA DIES IN CUSTODY

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On September 23, 2023, Raymond Erukaa, an octogenarian and pioneering chairman of the Ukum Local Government Area, was abducted from his home in Tse-Erukaa, Zaki Biam. Raymond passed away while being held captive.

The eldest surviving son of the late Charles Erukaa, an 81-year-old senior state citizen, confirmed the tragic news of his loss. The family learned of his passing on October 27, 2023, according to the former news anchor with Channels Television.

Charles bemoaned how his father was held captive by the kidnappers for thirty-four days, which was a traumatic experience for someone of his age. He recounted the ordeal of his late father’s ordeal at the hands of the kidnappers and the subsequent hostage-taking of his cousin Ben Jones Iorbee Erukaa, who delivered the first one million naira ransom by the kidnappers.

He mentioned that when the kidnappers initially contacted the family, they demanded N12 million but eventually lowered their demands to N10 million. but quickly dropped to N5 million, and after his cousin Iorbee Erukaa paid the first one million naira ransom, he and his late father Raymond Washima Erukaa were taken hostage. They were promised that once another one million naira was paid, bringing the total amount to two million naira, they would be freed. However, only his cousin, Iorbee Erukaa, was freed.

“It wasn’t until the night of Saturday, October 27th, 2023 that we received words that my father had died in captivity,” he said.

“In total, the family paid a ransom of Two million Naira for the release of my father from captivity, it also noted worthy that my father was abducted exactly twenty-four hours before the abduction of the Benue State commissioner for information and culture Mister Matthew Abo who was also kidnapped in Ukum local government area of the state.”

Four days after learning of his death, Charles Erukaa stated that the family is still looking into the general region in an effort to locate his corpse and offer their late father a respectable funeral.

Benue State police have not yet released a statement confirming the deceased.

Additionally silent on the subject is the Benue State Government, which released a statement following Erukaa’s kidnapping 37 days ago.