Newly married man and his friend brutally killed in Benue

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - A newlywed man, Jonathan Uko Ogah and his close friend, Gabriel Ogoda, were brutally m8rdered in Benue State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 4, 2025 along the Oju Awarji road in the Ullam axis of Gwer East Local Government Area of the state. 

It was gathered that the victims were returning from Oju Local Government Area when they were reportedly ambushed by the armed men. 

The attack has sent shockwaves through local communities, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for urgent action from government and security agencies.

A friend of the victims, Drlaff Ijuo Albert, who confirmed the incident said Jonathan got married on Saturday, August 2. 

“The sad ki!!ing of Jonathan Uko Ogah and Gabriel Ogoda today by a set of TIV folks on their way from Oju to Makurdi is a big hit on the entire nation of Igede. These 2 young guys have always worked genuinely hard, minding their businesses. These are folks we grew up together with. We all know them,” he wrote. 

Jonathan just got married 2 days ago for crying out loud. What is this...???

Gabriel struggled so hard to move his family to Makurdi, still hustling so hard to keep up with life, and now this.

What do we do, where do we go from here...???

Let us all know that there is no form of skirmishes between the Igede and TIV people in that axis, we're not fighting or whatsoever. How do we explain this heartlessness. This is so painful to hear.

To the executive governor of Benue state, His Excellency, Gov. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. To our able Oju/Obi Federal House of Reps Member. Rt. Hon. David A. Ogewu. To our capacity Oju 1 state Constituency Member. Hon. Onah Blessed Emmanuel JP.

You are our elected leaders who these young guys have voted for. We are helpless. How do we get justice for our brothers. This is so sad. Where do we go from here. Please look into this for us.

For now, my brothers and sisters in Igede land, can we avoid using this Oju Awarji road...??? It is better to pass through Otukpo axis, spend more money, and go through the bad and swampy road over there, and stay alive than to put our lives at high risk on this Achoho road.

God... This is terrible. I don't know whether to say rest in peace or not to my brothers because it looks to me like I'm still dreaming. I can't even type RIP. I can't.