Christiana Awuhe, the mother of a 32-year-old graduate of the Benue State University, Theresa Awuhe, who was shot dead by a gunman in Makurdi, Benue capital, recounts the excruciating moments with BIODUN BUSARI
What kind of person was your daughter?
She was a well-behaved girl, loved by many people in her school, hostel, and anywhere she found herself. Even, the reports people had given about her since her death and at the police station attested to the fact that she had a good personality. If you wanted to know her, you could even ask people around her, and they would testify to her kind and generous behaviour. She was an honest person. She did not portray any bad character. My daughter was well-known in her community as a morally upright lady. I’m still devastated that it was my good daughter that this grievous death snatched away.
How have you been faring since her death?
I have not been feeling okay. I don’t think I can be okay because of the trauma I had when the tragic news of her demise hit me. I didn’t know the cause of her death.
Before her death, was there any report that she had a fight with anyone or if she owed someone or engaged in any controversial issue?
As a matter of fact, after the death of my daughter, there was a report by the wife of her former landlord who was with her when she was shot dead that night. It was the woman who said one of my daughter’s neighbours envied her for no reason. She said this particular neighbour hated her.
How long did she live together with this neighbour?
According to her former landlord’s wife, the neighbour was a Hausa man, who had a shop close to where my daughter had her shop in Makurdi. He had more goods in his shop than Theresa’s wares. It was not the house neighbour. They were shop neighbours. I didn’t know all these things when she was alive. It was after her death that these revelations were exposed.
Where were you when she was shot dead?
She was in Makurdi still staying in her rented apartment near the Benue State University because she just finished her first degree programme. She told me she still wanted to sort out a lot of things, including her expectation of a local government job. But, I was having an awkward feeling, and I kept asking her if she was having any challenges whatsoever, but she repeatedly said she was fine.
How did you receive the tragic news?
It was on Saturday night, the 24th of August. I was told that she was shot between the hours of 9 and 10 that fateful night. She was on her way home after she closed from shop that night, in the company of three other persons – two adults and one child. The two adults were one student staying with her in a rented apartment, and the former landlord’s wife. When they were going home, it was Theresa that stayed at the back. The student was in the front; the former landlord’s wife carried a child, and Theresa was following them at the rear. It was the woman who told me all this.
As they walked, there was a gunshot, and they heard my daughter shout “Jesus”. By the time they looked back, they heard the second gunshot and it was my daughter on the ground. She was shot twice in the back. When the former landlord’s wife shouted, the killer put the gun in her mouth, and she kept quiet. And when there was panic in the air, the attacker fled, leaving all of them trembling and in fear.
Are you saying it was a one-man gang?
Yes. That was what the woman told me. She said the killer was dressed in a black shirt and trousers.
Do you know if there were vigilantes in the vicinity?
I don’t know. I used to ask her if the area was safe, but she would tell me that it was safe and I shouldn’t worry.
How long had she lived in the area?
She had lived there from the time she started her university programme.
What did she study at the Benue State University?
She studied Philosophy. She was supposed to have graduated in 2020 but it was delayed due to persistent industrial strike in the school. So, she graduated last year 2023. I’m still in shock and pain.
Was it her former landlord’s wife who called to inform you about her death?
No. It was some of her friends who came to my area. I was already sleeping that night and was shocked to see them after they woke me up from my sleep. It was a terrible night. Immediately I saw them, I knew something terrible had happened to me.
After reporting to the police, has the killer been found?
According to the police, the killer has not been found. The police are still working on it. They said they were investigating.
Did you know if she had a boyfriend or fiancé?
She brought a man to me whom she wanted to marry when the time was right. But she used to say it was not yet time for her to get married. The man has come several times to visit and show me emotional support.
What memorable things do you have or miss about Theresa?
She made me happy. I loved to see her around me every time because she was passionate about my welfare. She always said that she was aware of my suffering but she would end my pains one day after her school. She continually told me about the local government job she was processing, with the assurance that she would make me feel comfortable whenever she secured the employment. She said she would take care of me.
How about her siblings?
There are other children. They are all in emotional pain. Theresa was my fourth child. I had become widowed since 1996. The eldest son stays in Benin City. The second one is an engineer at Dangote Company in Benue State. The third one has passed away. Now, Theresa is dead. Then, there is a last-born.
Are you exploring other ways to get justice apart from reporting to the police?
I don’t fight people. I don’t take offence. I asked her elder brothers if there was anything they were doing but they were involved in her burial arrangements. Whatever they were doing, I might not be aware. They might not want to reveal everything to me.
