The family of Mr. Ternenge Iorkyaa Ikpanor is demanding justice following his brutal murder in Obudu, Cross River State, on Friday, July 18, 2025.
In a press release signed by Dr. Elijah Ikpanor Agege Shar on behalf of the family, the Ikpanors denounced the killing as a “barbaric, inhumane, and criminal” act. They said their son, known by the nickname “Agege,” was lynched and attacked with machetes by a mob under unclear circumstances.
Mr. Ikpanor, a Tiv man from Mbanyam, Mbaduku, was a commercial motorcycle rider. According to the family, he was assaulted in Obudu during what appears to be an outbreak of violence connected to ongoing tensions between the Mbazerem people of Mbaduku and the Abonkip people of Obudu, a conflict reportedly distant from where the incident occurred.
Describing the killing as ethnically motivated mob violence, the family stressed that this was not only a tragedy for the Tiv people but a reflection of the wider dangers facing ethnic minorities across Nigeria.
Ternenge was reportedly murdered in a border area between Vandeikya and Obudu local government areas, straddling Benue and Cross River states. He was said to be en route to deliver a waybill in Obudu when he was attacked and stoned to death.
“This is a blow not just to the Tiv community, but a stain on our collective humanity and the rule of law,” the family said in their statement.
They expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for ordering a swift response but insisted that justice must be pursued to its full extent. The family called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation, the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved, and the immediate release of his remains for proper burial.
In addition, the family urged the National Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent probe, while also offering legal and psychological support to the widow and the three children Ternenge left behind.
“This moment demands decisive action. Allowing such acts to go unpunished sets a dangerous precedent that normalizes violence and lawlessness,” the statement read.
His death has triggered widespread anger within the Tiv community in Benue State and beyond, with renewed appeals for stronger safeguards for minority groups residing in areas prone to intercommunal clashes.
The family concluded with a passionate call for justice, accountability, and urgent intervention.
In response to the incident, the Executive Chairman of Obudu Local Government Area, Peter Akonfe Undiandeye, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ikwen Atuaka, on Tuesday, Undiandeye described the act as “barbaric, regrettable, and completely unacceptable,” warning that such violence threatens the peace and brotherhood the local communities strive to maintain.
He called on traditional rulers, youth leaders, and community stakeholders to foster peaceful dialogue and urged residents including members of the Tiv community to stay calm, law-abiding, and united during this difficult time.
