Barely 24 hours after a trader’s wife was kidnapped, gunmen again struck in Gboko, kidnapping the Provost of the College of Health Technology, Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, Mr. James Terwase Ihongo.
Our correspondent gathered that Ihongo was abducted by gunmen Monday evening in Gboko, few hours, after Mrs. Blessing Arinze was kidnapped.
A source and resident of Gboko, who wished to remain anonymous said unknown gunmen Monday evening kidnapped the Provost in his house opposite school of laboratory, along Katsina Ala road, Mkar, Gboko around 7:30pm.
College of health technology Mkar is an establishment of NKST church.
Registrar of the school, Mr. Emmanuel Ikpilakaa who confirmed the incident told newsmen that the kidnappers trailed the victim from the office to his house from where they took him away to an unknown destination.
The Registrar explained further that, “the four heavily armed men came with ash coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle with which they whisked him away.”
The registrar who expressed worry over the spate of abduction of prominent sons and daughters of Benue, called on the government to act fast to stop the act of kidnapping and terrorism in the state.
He further noted that if nothing is done and urgently too, to nip it in the bud, nobody will feel safe in the state especially in Gboko LG.
He prayed for the quick and safe release of the Provost.
Wife of the victim, Mrs. Monica Ihongo said, “the well armed abductors forced their way into our siting room, seized my husband after collecting all our phones and money, they took him ( my husband) to the bedroom for some minutes before they took him away in their ash colour Toyota Corolla.”
She called in members of the public to pray for her husband just as she called in security agencies to act fast.
Also speaking, a senior staff of the college, Mr. John Terhemen Tseeneke said the frequent abductions of NKST staff may forced all the staff of NKST establishments to go on strike for fear of their lives.
The caretaker chairman of Gboko local government, who confirmed the incidence said he had already visited the family of the victim and also met with the security agents to strategize on how to release the victim from the hands of the abductors.
The NKST Secretariat, President and Secretary of NKST synod, Revs. Dominic Anza and Ephraim Shir also confirmed the incident saying all the NKST pastors worldwide had gathered at the headquarter to pray for the safe release of the Provost.