By 
By Bisi LAWAL
Suspected armed herdsmen Friday evening, attacked the former Chief of Staff, CoS, to former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Mr Terwase Orbunde, abducted his wife and house help in Makurdi demanding N100million ransom.
A statement on the verified social media page of his close associate, Mr Tahav Agerzua, the former CoS, his wife, Abigail and maid Patience Ogute came under attack at his farm located near the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in the outskirt of the state capital at about 6 pm.
A close ally of Orbunde, Tahav Argezua, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Orbunde, alongside his wife and the housemaid, was attacked when they had gone to inspect his farm located close to the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital at about 6 pm on Friday.
Argezua said, “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 (Friday), 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.”
Quoting eyewitnesses, Agerzua said the victims had gone to inspect the weeding of their farm located close to the road when they came under attack by the armed men.
He said, “They said after the inspection of the work and payment of the workers, five gunmen suddenly attacked their victims as they walked back to their car.
“It was reported that they opened fire and Honourable Orbunde received a bullet on the right arm while they ordered him and the women to follow them to an unknown destination.
“The shooting was said to have caused villagers and passersby to scamper for safety in different directions.
“As they marched along, the former Chief of Staff was said to be bleeding profusely and unable to walk quickly.
“The witnesses who watched from a distance said the leader of the group ordered him to walk away while the gunmen took the women to an unknown destination while good Samaritans conveyed Mr Orbunde to hospital.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene confirmed the development.
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