The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism of Benue State, Matthew Abo, was abducted by unknown gunmen on Sunday night in his residence in Zaki Biam, a community in Ukum Local Government Area. Abo was sworn in as a commissioner in August and is a native of Ukum, which is part of the Sankera axis that has been plagued by violence and insecurity.

According to eyewitnesses, the kidnappers came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house, including Abo’s wife and children, to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles. They forced Abo to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles, while a gunman sandwiched him. The abduction took place after 8 p.m. and the matter has been reported to the police.

A former Special Adviser on Media and ICT to the former governor of the state, Tahav Agerzua, broke the news of the alleged kidnap on his Facebook page. He described the incident as “shocking and unfortunate” and called for the immediate release of Abo.

The Benue State Government has also confirmed the abduction and condemned it as barbaric, unacceptable and inhuman. The Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has directed security agencies to immediately commence operations to ensure the safe release of Abo and another former council chairman, Iorwashina Eurkaa, who was also kidnapped on Saturday. The governor assured the people of the state that his administration will do everything to make the state safe for all.

The abduction of Abo and Eurkaa is the latest in a series of kidnappings that have rocked the state in recent times. In July, the wife of the state’s Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Ann Unenge, was kidnapped along with her driver and another woman. She was released after four days in captivity. In August, the Provost of the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Fredrick Anongo, was kidnapped and killed by his abductors.

The state has also witnessed attacks by suspected herdsmen, bandits and cultists, resulting in deaths, injuries and displacement of many people. The state government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on some local government areas and banned the use of motorcycles in the Sankera axis to curb the insecurity.

The people of Benue State have expressed their concern and outrage over the spate of kidnappings and violence in the state. They have called on the federal government and the security agencies to intervene and restore peace and order in the state. They have also urged the kidnappers to release Abo and Eurkaa unconditionally and respect the sanctity of human life.

Source: Vanguard