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In a case that has left a rural family in Benue State gripped by agony and uncertainty, the only son of an elderly couple has not been seen since August 2024 after he was arrested and transferred into the custody of Operation Zenda, a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force operating in Gboko.
Terkura Msonga, a native of Zaki Biam, had relocated to Gboko in search of better economic opportunities. He found shelter in the home of Aondongu Abuashe Abortaha at Mkar, Gboko — a man he knew from his hometown — and later began working on the farm of Achineku Jirbo Dugwei, another acquaintance from Zaki Biam.
According to accounts shared by human rights activist Ukan Kurugh, Terkura’s ordeal began on 27 August 2024. While returning from the farm on a motorcycle belonging to Achineku, alongside Achineku’s girlfriend, he was reportedly intercepted by a group of youths said to be acting on Achineku’s instructions. He was arrested and taken first to the “A” Division Police Station in Gboko, before being transferred to the Operation Zenda outpost at Kusaki in Yandev, Gboko Local Government Area.
Disturbingly, Achineku’s girlfriend and the motorcycle were reportedly released shortly after Achineku’s intervention, while Terkura was left in detention. Since that day, he has not been seen by his family or anyone else.
Terkura is the only son of his parents. His father is elderly, seriously ill, and largely bedridden. His mother, Monica Msonga, a poor and uneducated rural woman, has been left to navigate the painful search for her missing child alone. When she could no longer reach her son, she contacted Aondongu, who in turn reached Achineku. It was Achineku who informed the family that Terkura was being held at the Operation Zenda facility in Kusaki.
Desperate to secure her son’s release, Monica was allegedly asked to provide money. She was introduced to a lawyer, Barrister Iordye, said to be from Ishorov, during unusual circumstances. After parting with a substantial sum, her repeated requests to be taken to see her son were denied. Those involved reportedly warned her that the Kusaki facility was too dangerous to visit. In one phone conversation, the lawyer allegedly told her bluntly that even his own visit had been difficult and risky.
Months passed with little progress. A nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria further stalled any legal efforts. Communication eventually broke down after Monica lost her phone and contact numbers linked to those involved. Undeterred, she travelled to Makurdi in March 2026, visiting several institutions including Operation Zenda headquarters, the State Criminal Investigation Department, and the Correctional Centre, but found no trace of her son.
The family and activist Ukan Kurugh have raised several pressing questions: Why was Terkura arrested at the instance of a private individual? On what legal basis was he transferred to Operation Zenda? Why was he not released alongside Achineku’s girlfriend and the motorcycle? What exact roles did Aondongu Abuashe Abortaha and Achineku Jirbo Dugwei play in the sequence of events? And why have the two men remained silent on the matter?
Operation Zenda, a joint task force unit of the Nigeria Police Force focused on tackling banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery in Benue State, has in the past been credited with security successes. However, it has also faced repeated local allegations of heavy-handed tactics, prolonged detentions, and human rights concerns, particularly at its Kusaki outpost.
In a strongly worded call for action, the post urges the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command, the Benue State Government, and the National Human Rights Commission to immediately launch a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation. The authorities are being asked to disclose Terkura Msonga’s whereabouts without delay and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.
For now, an impoverished family in Zaki Biam continues to live in anguish, with a frail father at home and a heartbroken mother repeatedly asking the same heartbreaking question: “Where is my son?”
This case highlights the deep frustrations many rural families face when navigating Nigeria’s justice and security systems, where transparency and accountability can sometimes feel painfully out of reach. As calls for answers grow louder on social media, the eyes of many in Benue State remain fixed on how security agencies and the state government will respond.
