Gunmen abduct immigration officer, demand N20 million ransom

An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Benue State Command, identified as Simon Agbo has been kidnapped by gunmen at his residence in Makurdi, the state capital.

A close relation of the victim disclosed this to journalists on Monday in Makurdi.

He said the officer was whisked away on Sunday night at about 7:15pm while among his neighbours.

According to him, the incident happened at the opposite NKST church, Kuan, behind the Modern Market area of Makurdi.

The kidnappers were said to have stormed the compound and took him away at gunpoint to an unknown destination.

The relation said that as soon as the gunmen stormed the man’s residence, they fired gunshots sporadically in the air to scare family members and neighbours of the victim before abducting him.

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It was further gathered that the victim was serving in Kwara State before he was redeployed to the Benue State command in February this year.

Upon hearing of his abduction, youths in the whole community, in collaboration with local vigilantes, immediately launched a search throughout the night, but the gunmen could not be found.

A Younger brother of the victim, who simply identified himself as Agbo, told journalists that one of the victim’s neighbours had been apprehended in connection with the abduction of the Immigration officer.

“After persistent calls, that my brother should come home or, if possible, describe his whereabouts, my brother came home and went straight to his neighbour’s compound.

“While they were at the compound discussing, another of their neighbours came to join them, and all of a sudden, the gunmen arrived at the compound and immediately went straight to the Immigration officer, picked only him at gunpoint, leaving the remaining two people behind.

“The neighbour’s action looks very suspicious, and that is why we called for his arrest. He has been arrested and is currently in police custody until our brother is released. As I speak with you, the kidnappers have opened the discussion with the family. They are demanding for N20 million ransom for his release as of today,” he said.