September 7, 2024, marks a tragic turning point for the family of Mr. David Achinya in Taraku, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. The day brought the devastating news of the death of Terhile Timothy Achinya, a final-year Mechanical Engineering student at Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic (IMAP) in Lafia, Nasarawa State. His wife, 20-year-old Doosuur Achinya, is now left grieving his untimely passing just days before his anticipated graduation.
According to reports from The Nation, Terhile was reportedly detained and tortured to death by soldiers from Operation Whirl Stroke, a military security unit based in Nasarawa State. On September 6, 2024, he was on his way to his examination hall with a friend, Olagundoye Favor, when they were both apprehended by military personnel for reasons that remain unclear. They were taken to a military detention facility where they endured severe torture. Terhile succumbed to his injuries the following day, while Favor was hospitalized for internal injuries.
Terhile’s death not only extinguished his dreams of becoming an engineer but also left behind a devastated young widow and their two children, aged one and three. Expressing her heartbreak to the media, Doosuur lamented, “Every day, the children ask for their father, not knowing they will never see him again. My life is ruined, and there is no hope left for me. The military has taken everything from me.”
The soldiers involved reportedly attempted to cover up the incident. After Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital in Lafia refused to accept Terhile’s body due to the lack of a police report, the soldiers transported his corpse to the Anatomy Department of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), where it was accepted without question for use in student practicals.
This controversial decision has sparked widespread outrage, as the university’s anatomy lab accepted the body without proper documentation or an inquiry into the cause of death. The community in Taraku suspects this action was an attempt to obscure the circumstances surrounding Terhile’s death.
Barrister Ayiwulu Baba, the lawyer representing the Achinya family, has filed a petition with the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State and military authorities, seeking justice for the slain student. He confirmed that Terhile and his friend were arrested en route to the examination hall, and that Terhile was killed during the subsequent torture. Favor, held in a separate room, was unaware of Terhile’s fate.
The family and their legal team are demanding a comprehensive investigation and the prosecution of the soldiers involved. An autopsy was performed on Terhile’s body on September 22, 2024, in the presence of military, police, and family representatives.
In the wake of this tragedy, organizations such as the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the Student Union Government (SUG) of IMAP have condemned the military’s actions and are calling for justice for Terhile and his family.
The family’s lawyer highlighted the irregularities in the university’s acceptance of Terhile’s body, stating, “The Federal University of Lafia accepted the corpse without adhering to legal protocols or obtaining proper authorization. This was a breach of procedure, and the university must be held accountable.”
As calls for justice grow louder, Dr. Asema Achado, a member of the House of Representatives for Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency of Benue State, has raised the issue in the House. He emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation into Terhile’s murder and the accountability of the military for any brutality.
Terhile Achinya was laid to rest on September 28, 2024, after receiving permission from the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police. The Achinya family continues to pursue justice, urging that those responsible for Terhile’s premature death face the full consequences of the law.
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