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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Suspected kidnappers have, again hijacked another bus belonging to the Benue State Transport Company, Benue Links, and abducted 15 passengers.
The victims included a Staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA), Mr. Thomas Tikyaa,who was the Chief Accountant, Makurdi office before he was transferred to Anambra state.
Our correspondent gathered that the Benue Links vehicle, was travelling from Onitsha to Makurdi when it was hijacked between Otukpa and Ugbokolo in Okpokwu Local Government Area, (LGA) of the state.
According to a local from the area, who didn’t want to be named, the incident happened during late hours of the day, and four persons out of 15, were said to have escaped, leaving 11 in the custody of the kidnappers.
When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer( PPRO) SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying that investigation was on going.
Also, a management staff of the transport company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the report on the abduction was true.
“That is very true. They hijacked two vehicles; one National Union vehicle, and one Benue Links vehicle. This happened before you Ugbokolo. They were trying to reach Ugbokolo, when the incident occurred, “ the source said.
Meanwhile, the management of the NTA has written the Commissioner Police, Benue State Command, CP Batholomew Onyeka, concerning the incident.
In a letter marked NTA/,KD/ADMI/NPF/26/VOL. 11/492, 18 September, 2023, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Makurdi, the Zonal Director of NTA, Pam Dung Nyam, solicited the help of the security agency to secure the release and safe return of their staff and others.
The Zonal Director 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 yesterday ,17 September. 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,” the letter read.
A relative of the NTA staff, also confirmed the incident to our reporters saying, “My brother was coming back from Onitsha yesterday and he was kidnapped.
“We spoke yesterday evening but I didn’t know he was on transit. This morning an unknown number called me and when I picked the caller said, “oya talk to your sister. But since I didn’t say anything, he too didn’t say anything. Later they called his wife, and that was how we got to know what happened. They are demanding for N60 million.”
Gunmen, on September 10, 2023, hijacked two Benue Links buses travelling from Makurdi to Lagos, in Okene, Kogi state,and abducted 10 passengers, while others managed to escape.
Commissioner for Energy, Power and Transport, Omale Omale, in a text message said out of the 10 persons abducted, eight have been released and reunited to their family.
Omale who promised to call back with details on the latest kidnap said:”We have the assurances of the security agency for the release of the last two. I will talk with them today and revert.”
