Group seeks justice for Benue pastor allegedly killed by driver in Abuja
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A Benue socio-cultural organisation, Omi Ny’Igede Youth Wing Develoment Association (ONYWDA) Worldwide, has condemned the murder of an Igede pastor, Micheal Agaba, in Abuja.
The group, therefore, called on the relevant authorities to investigate the matter with a view to bringing justice to the deceased’s relatives.
The group, in a statement by its president-general, Cletus Aruta, and secretary, Ogbu Iji, described the murder of the cleric as callous and unjustifiable.
Until his death, Pastor Agaba worshipped with one of the old generation churches in Abuja.
It was gathered that Agaba, who hailed from Opiem Owo community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, died in mysterious circumstances during a row with a commercial vehicle operator in Abuja.
The group claimed that the deceased met his untimely death on January 6, 2025, while on his way back to his Abuja base after spending some time in his hometown to attend the burial of an in-law.
He said the deceased “had been at home for sometime for his in-law’s burial and just returned from Oju on January 6, 2025, to his base in Abuja.”
According to ONYWDA, Pastor Agaba got to Abuja and boarded a commercial vehicle that would take him to the bus stop nearest to his residence but the driver of the said vehicle, rather than take him to the said bus stop as agreed allegedly wanted to drop him off somewhere else.
The statement explained that the deceased “insisted that the driver dropped him at his preferred bus stop, but the driver refused vehemently and took him to a park, which was still far away from his junction and would cost him more to get home. He then insisted that the driver should pay his fare back to his bus stop.”
The group alleged that “the argument that ensued led to a fight and the deceased collapsed and went into coma. He was later confirmed dead at the hospital he was taken to.”
The group stated that the issue had already been taken over by the police, saying they would not rest until justice was done in the matter.