Abductors of wife to former CoS of Ortom, cook demand N100m ransom

…As Benue Governor orders security agencies to fish out kidnappers

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

The gunmen who attacked former Chief of Staff to the ex- Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Honourable Terwase Orbunde, on Friday evening and abducted his wife and cook have demanded N100 million ransom for their release.

In a statement signed by Tahav Agerzua made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, Honourable Orbunde, who is being treated for gunshot injuries in hospital at Makurdi said the abductors spoke to him at about 8:30am on Saturday themselves and through the captives.

The former Chief of Staff said his wife and cook were very calm when they spoke with him.

He further revealed that during the attack which took place at about 6pm on Friday the gunmen spoke Fulani among themselves and communicated with him in Hausa saying they would contact him on phone.

The former Chief of Staff said they told him that he should be prepared to send money to them and that if he failed to do that they would kill his wife and cook.

It could be recalled that on Friday April 12 gunmen attacked Honourable Orbunde when he went to supervise work on his farm between Genocide Cemetery and Angus Memorial College, along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The former Chief of Staff was shot on the forearm while his wife, Mrs Abigail Kashimana Orbunde, and cook, Patience Ogute, were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has directed security agencies in the state to ensure criminal elements disrupting the peace of the state are fished out and brought to justice.

He said that he is ready and willing to continue to provide the necessary support needed by the security agencies to ensure the state is cleaned of all nefarious activities.

The Governor gave the directives when he received a briefing concerning the attack on Mr. Terwase Orbunde, former Chief of Staff  to former Governor Samuel Ortom, and the subsequent abduction of his wife and housemaid by unknown gunmen.

He condemned in strong terms the unfortunate incident, saying, “I am shocked and dismayed by this barbaric act.”

“I have said this, and I must keep saying it. Security should, and must be everyone’s concern. The law enforcement agencies and the government need information. Make it a culture that anytime you see something, you say something”, he said.

He pointed out that while insecurity has become a global issue and is not peculiar to Benue alone, he will continue working round the clock to secure every life and property in the state.

He assured all Benue residents that security is a top priority in his administration, and that matters of insecurity will soon be a thing of the past.