The Commissioner of Information, Culture, and Tourism in Benue State, Matthew Abo, has been abducted from his hometown in the Zaki-Biam community of Ukum Local Government Area of the state. The abduction occurred on Sunday night.
According to witnesses, the commissioner was abducted by gunmen riding four motorcycles to his house in Zaki-Biam, a rural town known for being the largest yam market in the country.
READ ALSO: Kano CP seeks traditional, religious leaders’ support to end Gender-Based Violence
Tahav Agerzua, a former media aide to two ex-Governors of the state, giving account of the incident, stated that when the gunmen arrived at the information commissioner’s residence, they ordered everyone, including his wife and children, to lie face down. Afterward, they took him away to an unknown location on one of the motorcycles.
He added that the abductors compelled the commissioner at gunpoint to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwitched him.
READ ALSO: Kano Govership Election Tribunal: Probing the (In)validity of Ballots not Bearing INEC’s Official Mark
It was also gathered that the matter has been reported to the police.
However the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, confirmed the incident, saying that, “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.”