Unknown gunmen on Wednesday invaded Benue State and abducted the National Vice President of the apex-Idoma sociocultural organization, Ochetoha K’Idoma, Prof. Sylvernus Edache Okpe.
KemiFilaniNews gathered that the incident happened at about 7pm, along Otukpo-Otukpa road, on Wednesday.
It was learnt that Mr. Okpe was returning back to his base after attending the National Executive Council Meeting of Ochetoha K’Idoma in Otukpo before his vehicle was intersected by the gunmen who whisked him away to an unknown destination.
The Senator representating Benue South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, who confirmed the abduction in a statement released by his media aide, Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John, on Thursday, “strongly” condemned the kidnap of Prof. Sylvernus Edache Okpe.
The Senator called for the immediate release of the elder statesman.
“Senator Moro says the abduction of the erudite Professor is very disheartening and most unfortunate. He decries the rising cases of kidnapping in Benue South, saying that the practice is alien to the Senatorial District. He appeals to the perpertrators of the act to turn a new leaf and stop further desecration of the land.
“The Senator charges security agents to take steps to have the Professor rescued as soon as possible. He appeals to the abductors to release him unconditionally so that he can reunite with his family,” the statement read in part.
KemiFilaniNews reports that Benue State has been the epicenter of kidnappings in North Central with over three persons including Mr. Ojo Okpeka, Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ogbadibo Chapter abducted in Otukpa, Ogbadibo local government area while no fewer than nine persons were kidnapped last month in Ado local government.
