NTA Staff, 10 Others Kidnapped By Unknown Gunmen In Benue

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

At least 11 passengers including an NTA staff have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Benue State.

The incident, it was learnt happened around 10:00pm Sunday 17 September, 2023 between Ugbokolo and Otukpa.

Accoding to an indigene of the area who pleaded anonymity,, four (4) persons escaped during the incident.

The NTA Makurdi Zonal Director Pam Dung Nyam in a letter addressed to the State Commissioner of Police and made available to the media, tagged
COMPLAINT ON KIDNAPPED STAFF OF THE NIGERIAN TELEVISION AUTHORITY NTA MR. THOMAS TIKYAA CHIEF ACCOUNTANT said,” I wish to formally report the kidnap of the above mention Staff of NTA who was recently redeployed from NTA Network Centre, Makurdi to NTA Onitsha, Anambra State. The ugly incident occurred around 10:00pm Sunday 17 Sept. 2023 between Ugbokolo 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 safely return to his family.

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

It was also, gathered that the kidnappers had demanded an initial ransom of 50 million naira from family of the NTA staff and later renegotiated it to 10 million.

When contacted on the incident, the State Police Public Relations’ Officer, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed it , saying that investigation is ongoing.

But Benue State Commissioner for Energy, Power and Transport Barr. Omale Omale said he is in a meeting and will get back to our reporter.

It could be recalled that a week ago, two(2)fully loaded Benue Links vehicle travelling to Lagos was intercepted by kidnappers around Okene in Kogi State.