Benue first class monarch, Shuluwa, dies

The First Class Chief of Sankera Intermediate Area Traditional Council in Benue State, Tor Sankera, His Royal Highness, Abu King Shuluwa is dead.

Shuluwa was the foremost first class chief of the Sankera kingdom which comprises Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum local government areas.

A statement signed by the Secretary of Tiv Area Traditional Council, Shiniyi Tyozua, on Saturday, indicated that the royal father joined his ancestors on Tuesday at the age of 79.

The late king was said to have died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

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“Before his death, His Royal Highness, Abu King Shuluwa, was the Tor Sankera and Chairman Sankera Intermediate Area Traditional Council (comprising Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum local government areas), member of the Tiv Area Traditional Council and Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers respectively,” the statement added.

Shuluwa had attended the burial of late Ter Katsina-Ala, Benjamin Wombo on Saturday, and held meetings with all traditional rulers under his jurisdiction on Monday, a day before he died, to fashion ways to address insecurity in Sankera axis.

He will be buried on February 10, 2024 according to the Tiv Area Traditional Council.

The late king was born on December 31, 1946, at Usambe, lkyrav-Tiev ll, Katsina Ala Local Government Area of the state and was installed as first class chief on Monday, May 14, 2018.

He received his staff of office from former Governor Samuel Ortom, alongside with nine other first class chiefs who were the firsts to mount the new created thrones in the state.

The first class chief was one time Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) and Chairman, Governing Council of Federal College of Education, Yola in Adamawa State.

He also served Benue State Government as Commissioner for Social Development, Youth and Sports between 1988 and 1989.

He was Chairman of Benue State Tractor Hiring Agency (BENTHA) and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Commissioner of the Ministry of information and Culture.

The late Tor Sankera retired from the civil service in 1991 and ventured into active politics before he ascended to the throne in 2018 and then retired from partisan politics.

Late Shuluwa graduated from Atlanta University and obtained Msc in Social Planning and Administration and was married to Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Shuluwa.