The abductors of Terwase Orbunde’s wife, Mrs. Abigail Orbunde, and housemaid, Patience Ogute, a former Chief of Staff to Benue State’s immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom, have demanded a ransom of N100 million.
Tahav Argezua, a close supporter of Orbunde, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday.
Orbunde, his wife, and a housemaid were attacked at 6 p.m. on Friday as they went to examine his property near the Genocide Cemetery on Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital.
Argezua went on to say, “The abductors of wife and cook of former Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor, Terwase Orbunde, yesterday evening have demanded N100m ransom for their release.”
He added that Orbunde, who is being treated for gunshot injuries in an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi, said the abductors spoke to him at about 8:30 am on Saturday through the captives.
Argezua added, “The former Chief of Staff said his wife and cook were very calm when they spoke with 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 that if he failed to do that, they would kill his wife and cook.”