GUNMEN KIDNAP IMMIGRATION OFFICER IN BENUE, DEMAND N20m RANSOM

Read Time:2 Minute, 7 Second

By Oduola F.A.

Suspected kidnappers have abducted a Nigeria Immigration Service officer, Simon Agbo, from his residence in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

A relative of the victim told journalists on Monday that Agbo was taken around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday while he was in the company of his neighbours.

He said the incident happened at the opposite NKST church, Kuan, behind the Modern Market area of Makurdi, after the kidnappers stormed the compound and took him away at gunpoint to an unknown destination.

The relation said that as soon as the gunmen stormed the man’s residence, they fired gunshots sporadically in the air to scare family members and neighbours of the victim before abducting him.

It was further gathered that the victim was serving in Kwara State before he was redeployed to the Benue State command in February this year.

Upon hearing of his abduction, youths in the whole community, in collaboration with local vigilantes, immediately launched a search throughout the night, but the gunmen could not be found.

A Younger brother of the victim, who simply identified himself as Agbo, told journalists that one of the victim’s neighbours had been apprehended in connection with the abduction of the Immigration officer.

He said, “The neighbour was consistently calling on the victim to come home or he should direct him to his location, as at that time, they needed to see him that fateful Sunday night, by all means.

“After persistent calls, that my brother should come home or, if possible, describe his whereabouts, my brother came home and went straight to his neighbour’s compound.

“While they were at the compound discussing, another of their neighbours came to join them, and all of a sudden, the gunmen arrived at the compound and immediately went straight to the Immigration officer, picked only him at gunpoint, leaving the remaining two people behind.

“The neighbour’s action looks very suspicious, and that is why we called for his arrest. He has been arrested and is currently in police custody until our brother is released. As I speak with you, the kidnappers have opened the discussion with the family. They are demanding for N20 million ransom for his release as of today,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

Efforts to get the Benue State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, were not successful as her phone rang out.