Abductors of Benue  Commissioner’s wife demand N51million for her release

There is anxiety in Makurdi, the Benue state capital as the adducted wife of Commissioner for Land and Survey, Mrs. Ann Unenge, spent three nights with her abductors. Her abductors yesterday evening demanded for a ransom of N51million before she would be released. They had kept the family, especially the husband, Bernard Unenge, in suspense till yesterday evening when they used the victim’s number to call Unenge and a few other persons and demanded for a ransom.

A close family who spoke to The Nation on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter said the adductors phoned between 6- 7pm yesterday night. At press time negotiation was said to be going between the family and the adductors. The gunmen had on Thursday waylaid Mrs. Unenge in her Highlander jeep with Benue registration number MKD 288.

The incident, which is the second in the area within six days, has caused panic among residents of Makurdi. Those who spoke to The Nation said if a wife of a serving commissioner can be easily abducted, then no one is safe in Benue.

It was gathered from a relation of the commissioner who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak that Mrs. Ann was abducted in Makurdi shortly after she returned from Daudu town, where she went to visit her parents.

It was gathered that there was a struggle between the abductors and Mrs. Unenge at B. Division traffic junction when she attempted to force open the car door and flee. The gun men reportedly shot sporadically into the air at the traffic junction to scare away passerby before driving recklessly away with their victim who was heard shouting on top of her voice. Last Sunday, at about 7 pm, two women, Clare Dzuachii and Gladys, were abducted along Unique Secondary School, new GRA, Makurdi, in a similar fashion.

It was not clear if ransom was paid before the two women regained freedom on Thursday evening. Same night, Mrs. Ann Unenge was abducted. As at press time, the adductors of Mrs. Ann were yet to contact the family.