*Zaki-Biam, Benue State, Nigeria – September 25, 2023:*
The Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Benue State, Matthew Abo, has been abducted by unidentified gunmen in a daring and audacious act that has sent shockwaves through the region.
The incident unfolded in Zaki-Biam, the headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area in North-Central Nigeria. While details remain scarce, eyewitnesses who spoke to AIT.live via telephone provided chilling accounts of the abduction.
According to these eyewitnesses, the perpetrators arrived at Commissioner Abo’s residence on four motorcycles. They swiftly took control of the situation, ordering everyone in the house, including the commissioner’s wife and children, to lie face down. In a brazen act, they then seized Matthew Abo and fled the scene on one of the motorcycles.
The witnesses recounted that the abductors forced the commissioner at gunpoint to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles, with a gunman closely monitoring him. The abduction occurred shortly after 8 pm on Sunday, September 24, leaving the community in a state of shock and fear.
Matthew Abo had taken office as a member of the Benue State Executive Council only a few weeks earlier, following his swearing-in on August 29, 2023. He hails from Ukum Local Government Area, a region that has witnessed a surge in criminal activities, marked by frequent killings and abductions in recent times.
The authorities in Benue State have launched an immediate investigation into the abduction, and the security forces are actively pursuing leads to locate and rescue the abducted commissioner. The incident has heightened concerns over the security situation in the state, particularly in areas plagued by criminal elements.
Local residents are anxiously awaiting updates on the situation and hoping for a swift and safe return of Commissioner Matthew Abo.
