Gunmen, believed to be Fulani herdsmen with weapons, attacked the former Chief of Staff to the ex-governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, Hon. Terwase Orbunde, on Friday evening.
News About Nigeria reports that they made away with his wife and house help.
The incident took place near the genocide cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters road in Makurdi, Benue State’s capital, around 6 pm.
Mr. Tahav Agerzua, a close aide to Hon. Orbunde and former Principal Special Assistant to Chief Ortom on Media and Publicity, confirmed the attack in a statement in Makurdi on Saturday.
According to Agerzua, Hon. Orbunde was injured by a gunshot in his right arm but managed to escape. The assailants abducted his wife, Mrs. Abigail Kashimana Orbunde, and her house help, Patience Ogute.
Witnesses said Hon. Orbunde, his wife, and the house help had gone to check on their farm near the road. As they returned to their car after inspecting the farm, five gunmen ambushed them, firing shots. Hon. Orbunde was wounded, and the gunmen forced him and the women to go with them.
The statement added: “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 gunmen eventually instructed him to leave while they took the women to an undisclosed location. Good Samaritans helped Hon. Orbunde to a hospital for treatment, the statement added.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, has confirmed the incident.
