BREAKING: The Commissioner of Information for Benue State has been kidnapped.

BREAKING: The Commissioner of Information for Benue State has been kidnapped.

The Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Matthew Abo, has been abducted by gunmen from his residence in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state, on Sunday night.

NewsReport Nigeria reports that the commissioner was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29th, 2023. He hails from the Ukum local government area, which has been a major flashpoint of criminal activity.

Witnesses said the commissioner was abducted by gunmen who rode on four motorcycles to his house in Zaki-Biam.

The gunmen ordered everyone, including his wife and children, to lie face down, after which they took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.

The Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, confirmed the incident, saying that “Unfortunately, he (the commissioner) was kidnapped in his country home in Ukum LGA around 8 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

“He was in his home with his family, children, and people when the armed men came in. They forced him to ride a bike.

“We received the unfortunate development, and His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, has already directed and detailed the security operatives to ensure his safe release from the kidnappers den.”