Concerns are mounting in Benue State following the disappearance of two individuals, including a top aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia.

One of the missing persons is Atu Terver, the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Media Mobilisation.

He was last seen on Tuesday, reportedly travelling from Makurdi to Abuja but never arrived at his destination.

The second individual, Asom Jerry, a well-known social media activist, has also been declared missing.

His disappearance has sparked intense speculation online, with some alleging he was arrested by security operatives, though no official confirmation has been given.

Speaking with Punch on Thursday, Terver’s wife, Mrs. Civir Terver, confirmed her husband had set out for Abuja to visit his family but lost contact along the way.

“He left Makurdi on Tuesday and was coming to see us in Abuja but didn’t show up. The case was reported to the police here, and they said they are investigating. As of today, there’s still no information on his whereabouts,” she said.

When asked if she had been contacted by the state government, she responded that there had been no communication from her husband’s employer.

The Benue State Police Command stated it had no information on the alleged arrest of Jerry.

Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, explained that Terver’s case was under the jurisdiction of the FCT Command, as the incident reportedly occurred outside Benue.

“I’m just hearing about the activist’s arrest from you. As for the governor’s aide, the matter happened in Abuja, not in Benue State,” Edet said.

Attempts to reach the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Terso, were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered.

Meanwhile, the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Austin Agada, expressed alarm over the disappearances. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, the party criticised Governor Alia’s administration for remaining silent.

“The sudden disappearance of prominent Benue citizens, activist and critic Asom Jerry, and the governor’s aide Atu Terver (popularly known as Krazy T) has sparked fear and uncertainty.”

“These events undermine public trust in government and security agencies,” the statement read.

The APC faction condemned what it described as the governor’s “insensitivity and inaction,” urging security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the missing men and ensure those behind the incidents are held accountable.

The party also called on the state government to break its silence, reassure the public and show commitment to protecting the lives and rights of citizens.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to urgently forward a list of commissioner-nominees to the House for screening and confirmation.

This call was made during Thursday’s plenary session, the first sitting since the end of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state.

In addition to the call for cabinet appointments, the Assembly also requested that Governor Fubara initiate the process of drafting and presenting a supplementary Appropriation Bill to cover the remaining months of the fiscal year.

The session, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, saw members pass resolutions emphasizing the need to restore full governance and legislative oversight in the state following the recent political turbulence.

The Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened on Thursday following the expiration of the six-month state of emergency earlier imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu.

The emergency rule, declared in March 2025 at the peak of a political crisis, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state legislature.

However, President Tinubu on Wednesday lifted the emergency measures, directing the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers to resume official duties immediately.

Thursday’s plenary session was held at the Assembly Residential Complex along the Aba–Port Harcourt Expressway and presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

This marks the first legislative sitting since March 12, 2025, just days before the emergency rule was enforced.

While the assembly resumed legislative business, Governor Fubara was yet to return to the Government House as of press time.

Nonetheless, a large crowd of supporters gathered outside the seat of power in anticipation of his arrival.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described Nigeria as a clear case of a democracy in decline, citing rising unaccountability and elite domination of the political space.

Obi made the statement on Wednesday while speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue held in Accra, Ghana.

The event, themed “What Makes Democracy Die?”, attracted leaders, scholars, and advocates of democratic governance from across Africa.

According to the former Anambra State governor, democracy begins to erode when it fails to serve the interests of the people.

“Democracy is fundamentally about accountability, about putting the people first, ensuring security, quality education, healthcare, and lifting citizens out of poverty,” Obi said.

“It begins to die when leaders stop being accountable and when the system no longer prioritises the needs of the people.”

Obi expressed concern that in Nigeria, the democratic process has been hijacked by elites who use public office primarily to access resources for personal or familial benefit, rather than for the public good.

He urged Nigerian citizens to be more deliberate in choosing leaders, stressing the importance of electing individuals who possess competence, character, capacity, compassion and a strong commitment to public service.

The former presidential candidate also took aim at the recently ended emergency rule in Rivers State, which was lifted on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu.

He described the six-month intervention as a “constitutional misstep” and a setback to democratic practice.

“The disruption of democratic governance in Rivers State for six months was entirely avoidable. Its restoration, while welcome, remains a troubling chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” Obi noted. “I hope key lessons were learned by all the actors involved.”

He emphasized that true leadership demands the courage to admit errors, learn from them and make necessary corrections to protect the integrity of the democratic system.