Gunmen abduct immigration officer in Benue, demand N20m ransom

An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Simon Agbo, has been abducted by suspected kidnappers from his residence in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The incident occurred at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday  in the area opposite NKST Church Kuan, behind the Modern Market.

According to a family source, Agbo was outside his home with two neighbours when the assailants arrived, firing shots into the air to disperse residents before seizing him at gunpoint.

Agbo, who was recently redeployed to the Benue State Command from Kwara in February, was taken to an unknown destination.

Efforts by local vigilantes and youths to locate the kidnappers through an overnight search proved unsuccessful.

Suspicion has been raised over one of the neighbours present during the abduction, who had reportedly been pressuring Agbo to return home that evening and share his location.

“He kept calling and insisting my brother should come home.

“They were outside talking when the gunmen arrived and singled out my brother,” Agbo’s younger sibling told reporters.

The neighbour in question has since been detained by police for further questioning.

The kidnappers have contacted the family, demanding a ransom of N20 million for Agbo’s release.

As of the time of filing this report, officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Benue State Police Command had yet to issue any official statement.

The Star