Gunmen attack Ortom’s ex-CoS, abduct wife, housemaid

Suspected gunmen on Friday attacked the farm of Terwase Orbunde, who is the former Chief of Staff (CoS) to the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and abducted his wife, Mrs Abigail Orbunde and housemaid, Patience Ogute.

The trio was said to have gone to inspect the weeding of the farm located close to the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi when the attackers invaded the farm.

Orbunde was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state in the build-up to the 2023 governorship election.

His close ally and media consultant, Tahav Argezua confirmed the attack on Orbunde and the abduction of his wife and maid via his verified Facebook account.

An eyewitness further told our correspondent that the incident happened at about 6 pm on Friday.

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According to an eyewitness,  “After the inspection of the work, five gunmen suddenly attacked the former chief of staff to the immediate past governor, his wife and housemaid who were on the farm along Mobile Barracks/ Welfare Quarters in Makurdi.

“This happened around 6pm on Friday and the gunmen who were five in number opened fire and bullets hit Orbunde on his right while they ordered him and the women to follow them to an unknown destination.”

The eyewitness added that the gunmen marched the victims on a footpath but later abandoned Orbunde who was said to be bleeding profusely and unable to walk quickly.

The eyewitness said, “As they abandon the man, the gunmen then whisked the women to an unknown destination while good Samaritans conveyed Orbunde to hospital”.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it’s true, the DPO in charge of the area has informed me”, Anene said in a telephone chat on Saturday.