The wife of the former Chief of Staff (CoS) to former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Abigail Orbunde, and the family’s maid,Patience Ogute, have been kidnapped by herdsmen in the state.
After their abduction, the gunmen have demanded that the family pay N100 million random for immediate release of the two abductees.
They were forcefully picked by the herdsmen yesterday during an attack on the ex-CoS, Terwase Orbunde, farm in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
An associate of the former governor’s aide, Tahav Agerzua, said the victims had gone to inspect the weeding of their farm located close to the road when they came under attack by the armed men.
According to a statement on the verified social media page of his close associate, Tahav Agerzua, the former CoS, his wife, Abigail and maid Patience Ogute came under attack at his farm located near the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in the outskirt of the state capital at about 6 pm.
“They said after the inspection of the work and payment of the workers five gunmen suddenly attacked their victims as they walked back to their car.
“It was reported that they opened fire and Honorable Orbunde received a bullet on the right arm while they ordered him and the women to follow them to an unknown destination.
“The shooting was said to have caused villagers and passersby to scamper for safety in different directions.
“As they marched along, the former Chief of Staff was said to be bleeding profusely and unable to walk quickly.
“The witnesses who watched from a distance said the leader of the group ordered him to walk away while the gunmen took the women to an unknown destination while good Samaritans conveyed Mr Orbunde to hospital.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene confirmed the development
