TERROR ON BENUE ROADS: Gunmen Kidnap Two Immigration Officers, Demand N10m Ransom

Fear has gripped Benue State after gunmen abducted two officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and slammed a ransom demand of N10 million on their families.

The victims, Officer Oliver Orasuur and Officer David Shiaondo Iorwuese, were whisked away days ago along the Katsina-Ala – Ukum Road, a notorious hotspot for abductions in the state.

Sources disclosed that the gunmen wasted no time in establishing contact with the families, issuing chilling threats and insisting on swift payment to guarantee the officers’ safety.

Reacting to the abduction, the NIS described the situation as a “critical moment for the Service”, urging swift intervention by security agencies and solidarity from the public to ensure the safe return of its personnel.

This latest abduction adds to the growing list of security breaches targeting Immigration officers in Benue. Just four months ago, in May, heavily armed kidnappers stormed the residence of another officer, Simon Agbo, in Makurdi. Witnesses said the assailants fired multiple gunshots into the air to sow panic before seizing Agbo at gunpoint and dragging him into the night.

The officer, who had only recently been redeployed from Kwara to Benue, was abducted opposite NKST Church, Kuan, behind Modern Market, while relaxing with neighbours. His family later confirmed that the kidnappers demanded N20 million for his release.

The repeated targeting of Immigration officers has raised alarm over the vulnerability of security personnel in the state, with residents and stakeholders calling on government and security chiefs to act decisively before the situation spirals further out of control.