The operatives of the Benue State Police Command have arrested a lecturer at Joseph Saawuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), Dr Tersagh Ichor, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of Susan Anyagh.

Anyagh is the wife of the chairman of the JOSTUM chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, disclosed the arrest of the lecturer in Makurdi, the state capital, on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Anene said Anyagh was kidnapped in Makurdi on December 7.

Anene stated that the ASUU chairman’s wife was abducted along Otukpo Road in Makurdi and was taken hostage in her car to an unknown destination.

She added that the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, immediately ordered all patrol officers and checkpoints to ensure Anyagh’s rescue and arrest of the perpetrators.

The police spokesperson revealed that at about 2 p.m. on the same date, another information was received along the Yandev-Ugbema Road that the victim was attacked by her abductors and left unconscious by the roadside.

Anene said: “The victim was identified and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu, for treatment, where she later regained her consciousness.

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“Anyagh told the police that while she was driving from the NNPC Mega Station, Kanshio, where she went to collect money from her customer, she was flagged down at Otukpo Road by persons who claimed to be in need, and she stopped to render help.

“They quickly jumped into her car and pointed a gun at her, ordering her to drive towards the Wurukum area.

“Immediately, she looked outside the car and saw her husband’s colleague, Dr Tersagh Ichor of JOSTUM, standing by the car; she beckoned to him for help, but he turned his back and walked away.

“While moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from Ichor ordering that she should be killed, and she became agitated.

“When they sighted a police checkpoint ahead that was checking vehicles, they decided to reverse to a hidden place.

“They parked the car, brought her out, collected the sum of N1,350,000 she had in the car, opened the car boot, and took a vehicle jack, which they used to hit the back of her neck, and she fell.”

Anene stated that the lecturer has since been arrested in connection with the case, adding an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

She further stated that details of the investigation would be communicated in due time.

The Star