By Amos Aar
THE CARETAKER chairman of Ukum LGA of Benue State, Hon. Gideon Haanongon, who was abducted on January 13, 2023 is still in captivity as his abductors are said to have refused to shift ground on their ransom demand of fifty million naira.
National Record reported on January 14, 2024 how Haanongon was kidnapped alongside three others while on their way to attend the burial ceremony of the late Ter Katsina-Ala, HRH Benjamin Fezanga Wombo, father of the House of Representatives member for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo federal constituency, Hon. Solomon Wombo.
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A reliable source from Ukum local government confided in National Record on Wednesday that the abducted chairman was yet to be released as his family could not afford to pay the N50 million ransom and the kidnappers are reportedly not ready to accept downward negotiation.
Governor Alia had at the burial of Chief Fezanga Wombo called on the abductors to release the Ukum caretaker chairman unconditionally and embrace peace so that they would be reintegrated into the society where they will be useful to others. However, National Record is yet to confirm the state government’s efforts at freeing the chairman and his aides either by paying the ransom or using security personnel now that his call for a peaceful release has been rebuffed by the bandits.
