Former Governor Ortom’s Chief of Staff’s Wife Kidnapped in Benue Attack

Gunmen suspected to be armed Fulani herdsmen have executed a brazen abduction at the residence of Terwase Orbunde, former Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor. The assailants seized Orbunde’s wife, Abigail Kashimana Orbunde, along with their house help, Patience Ogute, in a harrowing assault near the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital, on Friday evening.

Eyewitnesses detailed the incident, revealing that Orbunde, accompanied by his wife and house help, had ventured out to inspect their farm adjacent to the roadway. As they concluded their inspection and headed back to their vehicle, a group of five gunmen ambushed them, opening fire without warning. Orbunde sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm, while the attackers forcibly abducted his wife and the house help.

The sudden eruption of gunfire prompted villagers and passersby to scatter in fear, seeking refuge in various directions. Despite his injury, Orbunde, bleeding profusely, was unable to flee quickly. Witnesses recounted that the assailants, led by a menacing figure, directed Orbunde to depart while they forcefully escorted the abducted women to an undisclosed location.

Amidst the chaos, compassionate individuals rushed Orbunde to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention, while the fate of his abducted wife and house help hangs in uncertainty.