Gunmen Abduct Medical Doctor, Son, Multiple Travelers on Enugu-Makurdi Federal Road

A group of armed gunmen have seized scores of travelers, including a medical doctor and his son, along the Enugu-Makurdi Federal road in Otukpa, Benue State. This unfortunate event occurred despite the presence of several military and police checkpoints, spaced every 10 poles.

Otukpa, a border community with Amalla Egazi in Enugu State, became the scene of terror as the assailants kidnapped all occupants of approximately six vehicles traveling from Abuja and other northern states to Enugu.

Among the victims is Dr. Emma Okolo , a medical practitioner from Niger State General Hospital, along with his son and a young lady identified as Ego Okozo from Umanaa Ndiagu in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State. Sources revealed that the victims were en route to their hometown for Christmas and New Year festivities when the gunmen struck.

A family source from the Ezeagu community in Minna, Niger State, confirmed the abduction, stating that the victims were taken between Otukpa and Amalla Egazi along the Enugu-Makurdi Federal road.

According to Okey Eze, another source familiar with the incident, Dr. Okolo was traveling with his family in his Sienna vehicle when the gunmen ambushed them. While his wife was spared, the doctor, his son, and the young lady were forcefully taken, and the vehicle was later found abandoned and towed to Enugu.

Tragically, the family source disclosed that the gunmen had reached out to the doctor’s wife, demanding a ransom of N50 million for the safe release of the abducted individuals.

Efforts to obtain information from the Benue State Police Command proved unsuccessful at the time of reporting, as the Command’s spokesperson, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, did not respond to text message inquiries. Earlier, she had acknowledged being in a noisy place and requested communication via text, but as of now, there has been no response to the inquiries. The situation remains tense as concerned parties await updates on this distressing incident.