Benue State Police Command has rescued two traders abducted by gunmen.
The two traders were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen who invaded a market at Mchia community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State last Thursday.
A family of one of the kidnap traders who did not want to be named said that the abductors had demanded N10 million ransom and noted that the incident was immediately reported at police station in Ugba, headquarters of the LGA.
He said, “We heard that some gunmen stormed Mchia market on Thursday and whisked away one of our relatives and one other who were in the market.
“The following day which was Friday they called one of our family head to bring N5 million before he could be released.”
Spokesperson for the State Command, SP, Catherine Anene said that the kidnap victims had been rescued and some of the suspects apprehended.
In a statement issued and made available to journalists on Sunday, Anene said that the kidnap victims were rescued on Saturday.
The statement partly read, “Upon receipt of information which was relayed to Police Headquarters Makurdi, the Commissioner of Police, Benue state command, CP. George Chuku ordered the deployment of tactical teams to raid the area and ensure that victims were rescued.
“On 25/11/2023 the police team stormed a hideout where the two victims were rescued at the compound of Zaki Tule Nyam, a tax collector.
“The victims stated that they were held hostage and their families were given one week to source for 10million naira and pay as ransom before their release.”
The PPRO said that the tax collector and seventeen other suspects were arrested in the compound for further investigation.
Anene who mentioned Items recovered from the suspect to include one dane gun and a matchet called on the people of the local government to cooperate with police teams sent to the area by giving them useful information.
