A SUSPECTED gang of armed kidnappers on Friday night abducted a businessman at Sankera Junction in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, eyewitnesses and a security source have said.
According to the source who spoke to News Point Nigeria on condition of anonymity, the victim, identified simply as Ejike, popularly known as “Junior,” was taken away at about 9:40pm after gunmen stormed his shop in the busy junction.
The attackers, said to be five in number and armed, reportedly arrived while patrons were gathered around the area drinking.
They ordered everyone present to lie face down and warned them against raising an alarm before seizing the businessman.
“They told everyone not to shout and to lie on the ground,” the source disclosed. “After that, they took the man away on a motorcycle.”
An eyewitness was said to have quickly alerted nearby soldiers after the kidnappers fled the scene.
The source, who identified himself as a soldier attached to an army engineering construction site in the area, noted that the military base is located less than 200 metres from the victim’s shop.
Despite the proximity of the security formation, the abductors reportedly escaped before any immediate response could be mounted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from police on the incident.
