Gunmen abduct Magistrate in Kogi, demand N100m

Unknown gunmen yesterday abducted a Magistrate with the Kogi State Judiciary, Sam Unwuchola on the Ajaokuta-Lokoja expressway. An eyewitness said the magistrate was returning from Onyedega, his station, in the company of a friend, when the hoodlums struck kidnapping him at Jimgbe near Salem University, Lokoja about 7pm.

The eyewitness said Unwuchola and his friend ran into the hoodlums who opened fire on them forcing them to stop. He said the bandits shot at the Magistrate’s friend who was on the passenger’s seat, adding that the bullet almost ripped off his left eye but shattered his cheekbone.

The wounded friend, whose identity was not known as at press time, he added, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Lokoja for treatment.

Confirming the incident, a source from the state judiciary told newsmen that the kidnappers had got in touch with the wife of the kidnapped magistrate and are asking for a N100 million ransom.

Unwuchola’s wife was said to have pleaded with the kidnappers to have mercy on her asking where the family would get that kind of money from before the abductors cut the line on her.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga, said the police was still investigating the matter.

Unwuchola, who is a 2002 Law graduate of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, is currently the President, Upper Area Court, Onyedega, Ibaji Local Council of Kogi State.