Family members say whereabouts of Benue housing commissioner unknown

Gunmen, yesterday, abducted Benue State commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ekpe Ogbu.

The incident, which occurred yesterday evening close to Adankari junction along Oturkpo-Ado road had all four occupants of the Toyota Hilux van, including the driver abducted.

The commissioner was in company of one Mr. Emmanuel Onya, who is said to be his in-law as well as an aide and political associate, Mr. Agbo Ode. The name of the driver was given as Aondoawase.
Special Adviser on security to Benue State Governor, Col Paul Hemba (retd), who spoke with The Guardian on phone confirmed the incident, but said that the kidnappers were yet to make any contact.

Similarly, spokesperson for Benue State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP), Catherine Sewuese Anene, who also confirmed the incident told The Guardian that the police had recovered the commissioner’s vehicle and taken it to the divisional police station at Ahmadu Bello way, opposite First Bank, Oturkpo.

The 62-year-old Ekpe Ogbu has held various political positions in Benue State. He was a councilor representing his Ukwunyo ward and one time leader of the Ado legislative council.
He was executive chairman of Ado Local Council between 2003 and 2007 and appointed Special Adviser to the governor of Benue State on Public Utilities during Governor Gabriel Suswam administration.
Ogbu was appointed Commissioner and member of the Benue State executive council by Governor Samuel Ortom in 2019.

The commissioner was on his way back from a Thanksgiving mass in Oturkpo in honour of the Senator representing Benue South district, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, when he was abducted.
When The Guardian contacted close associates and family members of the abducted commissioner, they re-affirmed that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown, nor has contact been made with any member of the family.