Unknown gunmen have kidnapped the wife and house help of Hon. Terwase Orbunde, an All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate and former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
The abduction occurred near the Genocide Cemetery on Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state’s capital, around 6 pm on Friday.
The abductees, Mrs. Abigail Kashimana Orbunde and her house help, Patience Ogute, were ambushed by five armed individuals while returning to their vehicle after paying workers on their farm.
Hon. Orbunde, who was shot in the right arm during the attack, managed to escape despite his serious injuries.
Eyewitnesses described a tumultuous scene as villagers and passersby scattered in different directions at the sound of gunfire.
The attackers forcibly took Mrs. Orbunde and Ms. Ogute to an unknown location.
According to witnesses, as the group marched away, the former Chief of Staff, bleeding profusely, was ordered to walk away from the scene while the women were taken captive.
Good Samaritans later rushed Hon. Orbunde to a nearby hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment for his gunshot wound.
READ ALSO: Gunmen Attack Ortom’s Former Chief Of Staff, Abduct Wife, Maid
Hon. Orbunde had served as Chief of Staff during former Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration before resigning to contest in the PDP gubernatorial primary. He later joined the All-Progressive Congress (APC) but was unsuccessful in securing a nomination.
Meanwhile, Sewuese Anene, police spokesperson in the state has confirmed the development.
Anene said Orbunde reported the attack to the police and the command dispatched a team of detectives to the scene of the incident and recovered the politician’s car.
Anene said the assailants would be tracked and apprehended and that the abducted women will be freed.
A a family source said the assailants have demanded a N100 million ransom for the release of the two abducted women.
