Benue Commissioner’ s Abductors Demand N60m Ransom

George  Okoh in  Makurdi

The gunmen who kidnapped Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mathew Abo, last Sunday in Zaki-Biam, have demanded a ransom of N60 million.

The abductors made the demand yesterday in a phone call to a member of the family.

The recipient of the call who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, stated that the kidnappers have resorted to torturing the commissioner to press home their demand.

The source said they called and placed their phone on loud so that their beating of the commissioner and his cries for help could be heard.

It would be recalled that the kidnappers came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house including the commissioner’s wife and children to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.

The witnesses said the abductors compelled the commissioner at gunpoint to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him.

His abduction took place after 8p.m. on Sunday, 24th September, 2023.

Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, quoted his principal as condemning the abduction and directing security operatives to go after the gunmen.

Abo was sworn-in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29th, 2023.