According to Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia, no ransom was paid to secure the release of Mathew Abo, his commissioner for information, culture, and tourism.Read full article
This was said in a statement released on Thursday in Makurdi and signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Tersoo Kula.
The governor claimed that no payments were made in exchange for the release of the man, including a ransom.
We can attest to the release of Matthew Abo, the Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism. In Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area, where he was kidnapped, he has since been reunited with his family.
He stated, "His release was as a consequence of strong pressure on the criminals from the heroic security agents who were acting on the directives of Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who had earlier given them marching orders to achieve Mr. Abo's release.
The statement also revealed that the kidnappers were still holding Washima Erukaa, the former chairman of the Ukum Local Government Area, and his cousin, who tried to negotiate for Mr. Erukaa's release but ended up being kidnapped as well.
The former chairman was abducted on a separate day and at a different location.
The governor, who welcomed the commissioner back, issued a stern warning to criminals to leave the state and said that they would not be tolerated in any way.
The commissioner was released safely, and the governor praised the security personnel for doing so and gave them the responsibility of securing the release of the other prisoners.
In order to ensure that criminals cannot operate in the state, he gave the security personnel the order to be harsh towards them.
Mr. Abo, who was abducted on September 24, was held captive for ten days before being released.
Around 8:00 p.m., gunmen arrived on four motorcycles, ordered everyone inside, including the commissioner's wife and kids, to lie face down, and then took the commissioner away on one of the motorcycles to an unidentified location.