Abducted Benue ex-LG boss regains freedom

The abducted former Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, Mrs Amina Audu, has been released by her captors.

Audu, who spoke to City Round during a telephone interview on Friday, said they regained their freedom on Thursday between 7:00 and 8:00 pm.

The suspended chairman and her driver were abducted on Monday by gunmen suspected to be armed herders along the Naka-Makurdi road.

Narrating her experience, Mrs Audu said, “You know how harrowing it is to be with kidnappers, I cannot even say much now. They (kidnappers) don’t have food in the bush, they only gave us pawpaw and garri to drink.”

Mrs Audu, however, declined to reveal the actual amount the kidnappers collected as ransom.

“I cannot say how much because I have not discussed that with those who negotiated our release,” she said.

Some motorists, who spoke to our correspondent, blamed the poor network of Naka-Makurdi Road for the frequent abductions experienced along the federal highway.

A commercial driver who identified himself as Adole said, “Some of us have abandoned Naka/Makurdi Road due to daily abduction of road users, we have opted for Makurdi/Aliade Road.”

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