Benue: Gov Alia Outraged Abduction Of Commissioner, Fmr LG Chairman, Urges Immediate Release

By Ayodele Oni

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has reacted to the abduction of Mr. Matthew Aboh, the Commissioner for Information, culture and Tourism, and former Chairman Ukum Local Government, Mr. Iorwashima Erukaa, describing the act as barbaric.

This is according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, on Monday in Makurdi.

The Commissioner was reportedly kidnapped in the presence of his wife on Sunday, at his home, while the former Council Chairman, Aboh was taken away by a yet to be identified gunmen last Saturday.

The kidnappers, have made contacts with the family of Erukaa but are yet to make contacts with Abo’s family.

The State Governor, who described the act as barbaric, condemnable and unacceptable, said that security agencies have been alerted to immediately commence operations to ensure their safe release.

The statement added that the Governor has called on the people of the state to remain calm, as his administration will do everything to make the state safe.

The Benue State Commissioner for Culture, Information and Tourism, Mr. Aboh Matthew was kidnapped in his Zakibiam residence, Ukum Local Government Area of the state.

According to information, it was stated that several gunmen stormed the residence of the commissioner and abducted him at about 8pm Sunday evening.

Eyewitness explained that the gunmen came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house including the commissioner’s wife and children to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.

Mathew Aboh’s abductors reportedly compelled him at gun point to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwiched him.

Aboh was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on the 29th of August this year and hails from Ukum Local Government Area which has been a major flashpoint of criminal activities with rampant killings and kidnappings in recent times.