Suspected gunmen, on Sunday, kidnapped the Benue State’s Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Chief Ekpe Ogbu, and three others.

According to a statement signed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the House of Assembly seat of Ado State constituency, Oriri Ocheje Richard, Ogbu was kidnapped alongside Hon. Agbo Ode, one of his in-laws and his driver.

The statement noted that they were kidnapped along David Mark’s farm, after Akpa Otobi while on their way from Otukpo to Utonkon in Ado local government area of Benue State.

“The Commissioner was said to have attended a Church programme, where Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial district, dedicated his newly inaugurated Campaign Council to God at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Otukpo.

“After the service, he was going to his village in Ndekma, Utonkon District of Ado local government area, before meeting the unfortunate incident at about 4pm on Sunday, December 4, 2022.

The younger brother of the Benue State Commissioner, Engr. Tony Ogbu, while confirming the incident to Leadership Newspaper on telephone, said that the Benue State Commissioner of Police was aware of the kidnap incident and they were working on the situation.

He added that since the kidnapping of his older brother, the kidnappers were yet to contact the family to ask for ransom, praying that God will protect his brother and return him safely to his family.