A medical doctor and his son have reportedly been kidnapped by gunmen in Otukpa, Benue State, along the Enugu-Makurdi Federal route.
On Saturday, it was learned that the travelers were kidnapped on Thursday evening, despite the presence of many military and police checkpoints every ten poles.
Otukpa has a border with Amalla Egazi in Enugu State, Nigeria. It houses the headquarters of Benue State’s Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
According to sources, the gunmen seized all the occupants of roughly six vehicles their route to Enugu from Abuja and other northern states on Saturday.
However, Dr Emma Okolo of Niger State General Hospital, his son, and a lady identified as Ego Okozo from Umanaa Ndiagu in Enugu State’s Ezeagu local government area were among the unfortunate travelers who were kidnapped and dragged into the bush on Thursday.
A family source verified their kidnapping on Saturday, saying they were on their way home for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“They are our members of the Ezeagu community here in Minna, Niger State and they were kidnapped between Otukpa and Amalla Egazi along Enugu – Makurdi Federal road.
They are from the Umanaa Ndiagu community.”
Another source, who simply gave his name as Okey Eze, told SaharaReporters that the medical doctor was travelling with his family members in his Sienna vehicle when the gunmen struck and abducted them.
“His wife was not taken, but himself, his son, and the young lady were taken in his vehicle. His vehicle has been towed to Enugu.”
Meanwhile, the family source disclosed that the gunmen had contacted the wife and were demanding a N50 million ransom.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Command’s spokesperson, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, didn’t respond to text message inquiries.
She had earlier told our reporter on the telephone that she was in a noisy place and requested that a text message be sent to her which the report responded accordingly.
However, as at the time of filing this report, she had yet to respond to the text message.