Abductors Of Benue Commissioner Demand N5M
Ekpe Ogbu, the commissioner of housing and urban development for the Benue State, was kidnapped by armed men who are now demanding a ransom of N5 million to free him.
According to a family source who spoke to this online newspaper, the kidnappers used the Commissioner’s driver’s phone to get in touch with the Commissioner’s family.
The family member who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media stated that the kidnappers did contact the commissioner’s family through the driver’s phone and demanded N5 million.
The Commissioner was abducted on Sunday at Adankari village along the Otukpo/Ado road along with his driver, aide, and another person.
In the meantime, four police teams have been sent to the area to try and save the four people.
Two teams from the Otukpo divisional police, including members of Operation Zenda and Safe Highway, were reportedly deployed, according to a police source.
“With the deployment of two teams from our divisional police in Otukpo, the command has stepped up efforts to free the kidnap victims.
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The police source added that members of Operation Zenda and Safe Highway had all been sent to the area.
Earlier, Catherine Anene, the State Command’s public relations officer, explained that the incident took place at a forest near the Otukpo/Ado road around 6:20 p.m.
Anene claimed in a statement released on Monday that police officers on patrol noticed a car parked near a forest along the Adankari village, Otukpo-Ado road.
“Shortly after the car was found, it was learned that Ekpe Ogbu, the housing and urban development commissioner for Benue State, who had travelled to Utonkon for a funeral, was returning with three other people along the same route and was no longer reachable. Police teams were sent out right away to look for these victims.
“The Benue State Command Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, who visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment, had identified a new route linking the forest to the highway and installed sufficient security on the road to prevent further occurrences.
“While interacting with members of the Adankari community, the CP asked them to provide information to the police in order to help them with the ongoing investigation.
The statement said, in part, “The CP also visited the victim’s family members and assured them of his commitment to rescue the commissioner and other hostages.”
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