Abductors of Benue Commissioner demand 11m

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Abductors of the Benue state commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Dennis Ekpe Ogbu are demanding 11 million naira to secure his release.

Peoples Daily reliably gathered that the abductors made contact with family of the kidnapped Commissioner on Monday.

A very close family source who pleaded anonymity however, disclosed that the bandits have reviewed the amount to 5 million naira.

As at the time of filing this report, it could not be ascertained if the family will raise the money or whether the Benue state government will wade in.

This is just as there has not be any official statement issued by the state government about the incident.

But Spokesperson SP Catherine Anene told Peoples Daily on phone that their team which have since been deployed to the area, is yet to do anything.

Another family source told Peoples Daily that the family was distraught when the news of the commissioner’s kidnap broke out. Family relatives, friends and sympathisers could be seen thronging the house in his Ukwunyo, Utonkon area of Ado local government council.

The source said that since the news of the kidnap broke out, “there  has been prayer sessions in his house with different groups and his wife”.

Mr. Ogbu was abducted on Sunday at 4pm at Otobi in Otukpo local government area while travelling to his country home Utonkon in Ado local government area after attending a Thanksgiving service organized by Sen. Abba Moro for his recently inaugurated senatorial reelection campaign team.