NTA staff, 10 other passengers abducted in Benue, kidnappers demand N10m as ransom

Gunmen on Sunday, September 17, abducted an employee of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after intercepting another Benue Links vehicle travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State to Makurdi.

The abduction occurred on  Ogbokolo/Otukpa expressway in Ogbadibo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas of the state.

The NTA employee was said to be travelling  to Makurdi to see his family before he became a kidnap victim.

It will be recalled that on  Sunday, September, 10, 10 passengers in two Benue Links buses travelling from Makurdi to Lagos were kidnapped along Ajaokuta/Okene road.

The latest kidnap operation came exactly a week after, with a fully-loaded 15-passenger bus attacked and the victims taken away, save four commuters and the driver who were said to have escaped.

Confirming the abduction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene said that investigation was in progress.

The management of NTA, Makurdi, has written a letter signed by its Zonal director, Pam Dung Nyam, to the state command , notifying it of the abduction of one of his staff in the ill fated vehicle.

The letter titled:  “Complaint On Kidnapped Staff  Of The Nigerian Television Authority NTA Mr Thomas  Tikyaa, Chief  Accountan,” read: “I wish to formally report the kidnap of the above mentioned staff of NTA who was recently redeployed from NTA Network Centre, Makurdi to NTA Onitsha, Anambra  State.

“The ugly incident occurred around 10:00pm yesterday 17 Sept. 2023, between Ogbokolo and Otukpa on his way to Makurdi to visit his family while on board Benue Links bus.

“In the light of the above, we will like to solicit your kind assistance for his rescue and safe return to his family.

“I shall be very grateful for your prompt intervention in this regards.”

One of the staffers of NTA who craved anonymity disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the family of the victim and demanded N50 million which was later reduced to N10 million.