Gunmen abducts college provost in Benue

GUNMEN yesterday kidnapped the Provost of College of Health Technology Mkar, Gboko in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Mr. James Terwase Ihongo.

Some gunmen also on Monday abducted Mrs. Blessing Arinze Chukwudi in Gboko.

The Nation gathered that the gunmen stormed the provost’s home located opposite the School of Laboratory, on Katsina Ala road, Mkar, Gboko at about 7:30 a.m. yesterday.

College of Health Technology Mkar was established by NKST Church.

The school registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Ikpilakaa, who confirmed the incident in an interview with The Nation in his office in Gboko, said the kidnappers trailed the victim from the office to his house and abducted him to an unknown destination.

“Four heavily armed men came with an ash colour Toyota Corolla. Government must act fast to stop the act of kidnapping and terrorism in the state; nobody is saved, especially in Gboko. I pray God to fast-track quick and safe release of the provost,” he said.

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The victim’s wife, Mrs. Monica Ihongo, said the abductors forced their way into their sitting room, seized her husband after collecting all their phones and money and whisked him away in their ash colour Toyota Corolla.

On his part, a senior staff of the college, Mr. John Terhemen Seeneke, said the frequent abductions of NKST staff may compel NKST management to shut down its institutions in Gboko, adding that “the level of insecurity in the state is worrisome”.

Caretaker Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area Jacob Iorver, who confirmed the incident, said he had already visited the family of the victim and also met with the security agents on how to get the victim released from the hands of the abductors.

When contacted, the NKST President Revs. Dominic Anza and secretary of the church’s synod Ephraim Shir confirmed the incident.

They added that NKST pastors worldwide have been told to gather at the headquarters to pray for the provost’s safe release.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Police Command, Sewuese Anene, a deputy superintendent of police, said she was yet to get details of the kidnapping.