The abductors of the wife and housemaid of the former Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom, Abigail Orbunde, and Patience Ogute, have demanded N100 million.
This was disclosed by Tahav Argezua, a close ally of Terwase Orbunde.
Argezua and Orbunde were aides to the former governor. While the former was Special Adviser on Publicity to Ortom, the latter was Chief of Staff.
Argezua stated in the statement, “The abductors of the wife and cook of former Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor, Honourable Terwase Orbunde, yesterday evening demanded N100 million ransom for their release.
He further stated that the abductors spoke to Orbunde around 8.30 am on Saturday through the captives in his hospital bed.
Argezua added, “The former Chief of Staff said his wife and cook were very calm when they spoke to him.
“He revealed that during the attack, which took place at about 6 pm yesterday, the gunmen spoke Fulani among themselves and communicated with him in Hausa, saying they would contact him on the phone.
“The former Chief of Staff said they told him that he should be prepared to send money to them, and if he failed to do so, they would kill the women.
It will be recalled that five gunmen had attacked the former Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor of Benue State on his farm and abducted the two women.
Orbunde was reportedly shot and is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi.