Several gunmen had on Sunday night, September 24, stormed the residence of the Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, and kidnapped him.
The incident had reportedly occurred at about 8:00pm in his country home in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state
According to reports, the commissioner had been at home with his family members when the gunmen arrived on four motorcycles and and barged into his living room.
An eyewitness had reported:
“The kidnappers had arrived on four motorcycles, commanded everyone in the house including the commissioner’s wife and children to lie face down, and took him away to an unknown location on one of the motorcycles.
“The kidnappers forced the commissioner to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him a the back.”
Abo had been among the 17 commissioners inaugurated on August 29, 2023, by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo, had confirmed the abduction of the commissioner.
He had said:
“We received the unfortunate news report and His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia has already ordered and detailed the security perspnnel in the state to ensure his safe release from the kidnappers’ den.”
