Gunmen have abducted a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer, Simon Agbo, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, sparking fear and outrage within the local community.
The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday in the Kuan area, opposite NKST Church, behind the Modern Market. According to eyewitnesses and family sources, Agbo was outside his residence with two neighbours when the assailants stormed the area, firing several shots into the air to disperse bystanders.
The gunmen seized Agbo at gunpoint and whisked him away to an unknown destination, leaving the neighbourhood in panic. The officer, who had only recently been redeployed to Benue from Kwara State in February, is believed to have been specifically targeted.
In the aftermath of the abduction, local vigilante groups and youths from the community launched a search operation, but the kidnappers managed to escape without a trace.
A disturbing development emerged when Agbo’s younger brother revealed suspicions about one of the neighbours who was with the officer at the time of the incident. “He kept calling and insisting my brother return home or share his location. They were outside talking when the gunmen struck, and only my brother was taken,” the brother said.
The neighbour in question has since been arrested by police and is currently in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the abductors have contacted the Agbo family and are demanding a ransom of N20 million for his safe release.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but security agencies are reportedly working with local intelligence to track down the kidnappers and secure Agbo’s release.
The incident adds to growing concerns about insecurity in Benue and across Nigeria, where abductions for ransom continue to be a major threat to public safety.
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