December 31, (THEWILL) – The President-General of the Kunav United Development Association, Deacon Emmanuel Tor Yaji, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his hometown, Tsar Mbaduku, located in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident reportedly occurred between 9 and 10 pm on Monday, December 30, 2024, while Yaji was relaxing with associates and friends.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants stormed the gathering, firing shots into the air to disperse the crowd. In the ensuing chaos, a former member of the Benue State House of Assembly for Tiev Constituency, Dr. Abraham Akor Agba, attempted to confront the kidnappers but was struck on the forehead with a blunt object. The attackers then whisked Yaji away.
Sources disclosed that the kidnappers fled along the Vandeikya Road before veering into a bush path leading to Adikpo in Kwande Local Government Area. Youths from Tsar reportedly pursued the abductors on motorcycles but were forced to retreat due to heavy gunfire.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the abduction in a statement issued on Tuesday. According to the statement, officers from the Vandeikya Police Division received information about the incident at approximately 8:30 pm on Monday.
“Swiftly, police detectives were deployed for his rescue, and an investigation is ongoing. The command will appreciate every useful information that can lead to his rescue,” the statement read.
The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, SP Sewuese Anene, assured that updates on the operation would be communicated as investigations progress.
This latest abduction has heightened concerns over the security situation in Benue State, with residents calling on authorities to intensify efforts to curb rising cases of kidnappings and other violent crimes.
