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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Kidnappers of Benue State Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ekpe Ogbu, and three others have demanded N5 million ransom from their family members.
The police have also deployed more security personnel to search and rescue the victims.
The commissioner was abducted alongside his driver, aide and one other person on Sunday, while traveling along Otukpo/Ado road, in Ado local government area of the state.
A police source said two teams from divisional police in Otukpo, men of Operation Zenda and Safe Highway were said to have been deployed.
“The command has intensified efforts in rescuing the kidnap victims with the deployment of two teams of our divisional police in Otukpo. Also, men of Operation Zenda and Safe Highway have all been deployed to the area,” the source said.
A family source also informed newsmen that the abductors have opened contact with the family of the commissioner and have demanded that N5 million be paid to them. It was gathered that the kidnappers contacted the commissioner’s family using the driver’s telephone. The family source said: “Yes, the kidnappers have contacted the family of the commissioner using the driver’s phone and demanded N5 million.”
Meanwhile, the state command’s Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, explained that the incident happened at about 1820hrs, at a forest along Otukpo/Ado road.
In a statement issued yesterday, Anene said police officers who were on patrol sighted a vehicle parked by a forest area along Adankari village, Otukpo-Ado road.
“Shortly after the vehicle was recovered, information was received that the Benue State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, who had travelled to Utonkon for a burial, was traveling back with three others through the same route, and was no longer reachable. Immediately, police teams were deployed in search of the victims.
“The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Wale Abass, who visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment, has identified a new route linking the forest to the highway and placed adequate security on the road to forestall further occurrences.
“While interacting with Adankari community members, the CP requested them to volunteer information to the police, to assist them in the ongoing operation. The CP also visited the victim’s family members and assured them of his commitment to rescue the commissioner and others held hostage,” she said.
