The Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Matthew Abo has been kidnapped by gunmen.
Abo was said to have been whiskedß away by the assailants who invaded his private residence at Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state at about 8pm on Sunday evening.
Tahav Agerzua, former Special Adviser on Media and ICT to the governor Samuel Ortom, disclosed this in a Facebook post shortly after the incident.
According to Agerzua, the armed men besieged the home of the commissioner on motorbikes and took him away at gunpoint after ordering his wife children and others, who were with him, to lie faced down.
His post partly reads: “There are confirmed reports that several gunmen stormed the residence of Matthew Abo, Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Zaki-Biam, and abducted him about two hours ago.
“Eyewitnesses state 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.
“The abduction took place after 8p.m. on Sunday, 24th September, 2023. The matter has been reported to the police.”
Truth Live News recalls that the abducted commissioner was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29, 2023 and he hails from Ukum Council.
Ukum is in the Sankera axis of the state, which is made up of Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local governments.
Despite the presence of security personnel, that part of the state has remained the epicentre of attacks, killings and kidnappings by unknown gunmen, whose activities have gradually taken firm root in the axis.