Benue Information Commissioner abducted in his home

Matthew Abo, the Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism has been abducted by some unknown gunmen.

Abo is reported to be abducted from his residence in his hometown in the Zaki-Biam community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state on Sunday night.

According to a witness who spoke to the press, the commissioner was picked by gunmen who were riding four motorcycles to his hometown Zaki-Biam, a rural town famous for being the largest yam market in the country.

In his account of the incident, Tahav Agerzua, a former media aide to two ex-Governors of the state, wrote that when the gunmen arrived at the information commissioner’s residence, they ordered everyone, including his wife and children to lie face down, after which they took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles, Daily Trust reports.

He added that the abductors compelled the commissioner at gunpoint to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him.

While the spokeswoman of the Police Command in Benue, SP Catherine Anene, had yet responded to text message put through her telephone for confirmation of the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, confirmed the incident.

He said “Unfortunately, he (commissioner) was kidnapped in his country home in Ukum LGA, around 8pm on, Sunday, September 24, 2023.

“He was in his home with his family, children and his people when the armed men came in. They forced him to a bike.

“We received the unfortunate development and His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia has already directed and detailed the security operatives to ensure his safe release from the kidnappers den.”

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