The late Raymond Erukaa.
The octogenarian Raymond Erukaa, who was abducted from his residence in Tse-Erukaa, Zaki Biam, on September 23, 2023, has tragically passed away while in captivity. Raymond Erukaa was a pioneer chairman of the Ukum Local Government Area in 1981.
Confirming the unfortunate demise of the 81-year-old senior statesman, Charles Erukaa, the eldest surviving son of the deceased and a former news anchor at Channels Television, revealed that the family received news of his passing on October 27, 2023.
Charles recounted the distressing ordeal his late father endured at the hands of the kidnappers, along with the subsequent abduction of his cousin, Ben Jones Iorbee Erukaa, who had delivered the initial one million naira ransom to the kidnappers. He expressed his sorrow over how his elderly father was kept captive by the kidnappers for thirty-four days, given his advanced age.
He explained that the kidnappers initially demanded N12 million during their first contact with the family but later reduced it to N10 million. Subsequently, the ransom amount was lowered to N5 million.
When Charles’s cousin, Lorbee Erukaa, brought the initial one-million-naira ransom, both he and his father, the late Raymond Washima Erukaa, were held hostage. An additional one million naira was paid, bringing the total ransom to two million naira, with the promise of releasing both men. However, only Charles’s cousin Lorbee was released.
“It wasn’t until the night of Saturday, October 27th, 2023 that we received words that my father had died in captivity,” he said.
“In total, the family paid a ransom of Two million Naira for the release of my father from captivity, it also noted worthy that my father was abducted exactly twenty-four hours before the abduction of the Benue State commissioner for information and culture Mister Matthew Abo who was also kidnapped in Ukum local government area of the state.”
As of the time this report was being compiled, Charles Erukaa mentioned that the family was actively exploring the vicinity, with the aim of locating and retrieving his father’s body, which was four days after they learned of his passing. They remained determined to provide their late father with a dignified funeral.
Meanwhile, the Benue State police have not issued any official statement to confirm the death.