From Vincent Nyinongu, Makurdi
Tragedy struck in Benue State on Tuesday night as unknown gunmen killed Dr. Terkula Suswam, the immediate elder brother to Senator Gabriel Suswam, who represents Benue North-East Senatorial District.
The gunmen were said to have killed the elder Suswam at his country home in Anyiin, Logo Local Government area of the state.
It was revealed that the killers arrived the deceased’s residence in a Toyota Corolla car popularly known as ‘dog nyash’, parked it in front of his residence and walked down to where he was seated and shot him to death unhindered.
According to sources, the killers, having completed their mission, walked back into their vehicle and drove off without any interruption.
It was after they had left the scene that security officials arrived and conveyed the lifeless body of Suswam to the mortuary, a source informed.
The late Terkula Suswam, who held a high profile chieftaincy title in Tivland, was a serial investor and presided over the Ashi conglomerate with many firms in the portfolio.
He was the oroprietor of Ashi Polytechnic, Anyiin and chairman of Ashi FM 99.9 radio station in Katsina-Ala. He also founded the Ashitek Printing Press in Makurdi, among other investments.
A politician, businessman and academic, Dr Suswam obtained a Ph.D in Military and Diplomatic History at the Benue State University and was author of several books and academic articles in renowned journals.
The late Suswam renowned for his philanthropy, started out as a political activist and became the Benue State Vice Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), during the aborted Third Republic transition politics.
He later retired from politics to settle for business, academics and community service.
The late Suswam is survived by his wife, many children and siblings, including his immediate younger brother, Senator Suswam who is immediate past governor of the state. (Daily Asset)