The Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Benue state, Matthew Abo, has been abducted. Abo was taken from his residence in his hometown in Zaki-Biam community, which is situated in the Ukum Local Government Area of the state, on the evening of Sunday, September 25.
According to reports, Abo was kidnapped by gunmen who arrived at his house on four motorcycles. Zaki-Biam, a rural town renowned as the country’s largest yam market, was the location of this incident. Eyewitnesses stated that the armed individuals arrived at the information commissioner’s residence and instructed everyone, including his wife and children, to lie face down. Afterward, they transported Abo to an undisclosed location on one of the motorcycles.
The abductors, at gunpoint, compelled the commissioner to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while another gunman was positioned beside him.
Confirming the incident, Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Hyacinth Alia, stated, “Unfortunately, he (the commissioner) was kidnapped in his country home in Ukum LGA, around 8 pm on Sunday, September 24, 2023. He was at home with his family, children, and his people when the armed men entered.
They forced him onto a bike. We received this unfortunate development, and His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, has already directed and detailed the security operatives to ensure his safe release from the kidnappers’ den.”