An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Simon Agbo, was reportedly kidnapped by armed men suspected to be kidnappers from his residence in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, on Sunday around 7:15 p.m., according to family sources.
A relative who spoke to the media on Monday explained that the assailants arrived unexpectedly, firing several shots into the air to create panic before forcibly taking Agbo at gunpoint. The officer was taken to an unknown location, while others present at the scene were left unharmed.
Agbo, who had recently been transferred from the Kwara State Command to Benue in February, was said to be spending time with neighbours when the attackers struck. The abduction occurred near NKST Church in the Kuan area, behind the Modern Market.
The kidnappers have since contacted Agbo’s family, demanding a ransom of N20 million for his release.
Speaking to journalists, the victim’s younger brother—identified only as Agbo—shared that a neighbour had persistently called Simon that night, urging him to return home or disclose his location. Eventually, Simon responded and headed to the neighbour’s compound, where the abduction took place.
According to the family, the attackers went directly for the NIS officer, seizing him at gunpoint while sparing two others who were with him. The brother expressed suspicion over the neighbour’s involvement, stating that the individual has since been arrested and is currently in police custody pending further investigation.
In response to the incident, members of the community, along with local vigilantes, carried out an overnight search for the abductors, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Benue State has been grappling with recurring security challenges, including frequent kidnappings, killings, and property destruction. Despite repeated assurances from both the federal and state governments to tackle the crisis,
