Gunmen abduct Benue Information Commissioner

Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, has been abducted. Abo was abducted from his residence in his hometown in Zaki-Biam at his residence in the Zaki-Biam community of Ukum Local Government Area, on Sunday night.

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

He hails from Ukum LGA which has been a major flashpoint of criminal activities.

Witnesses said the commissioner was abducted by gunmen who rode on four motorcycles to his house in 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.

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.

It was also gathered that the matter has been reported to the police.

But the spokeswoman of the Police Command in Benue, SP Catherine Anene, had yet to respond to text messages put through her telephone for confirmation of the incident.

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, confirmed the incident, saying, “Unfortunately, he (commissioner) was kidnapped in his country home in Ukum LGA, around 8 pm 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.”