The Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, Dr Francis Ottah Agbo, has described as “unfortunate” and “barbaric”, the spate of insecurity spreading across Ogbadibo and Okpokwu local government areas.
A press statement personally signed by the Member on Wednesday, notes that in the early hours of Tuesday, unknown gunmen attacked Catholic Reverend Sisters at the Okwungaga convent, in Okpokwu LGA and snatched an 18-Seater Toyota bus branded ‘Sisters of Nativity’.
The statement also added that “men of the underworld also struck at Okpoga in the same LGA, killing one person, injured many and abducted an infant in the operation.
“Later in the night same Tuesday, a group of armed men abducted a young lady, Miss Mercy Anoyi Gabriel at the front of her shop in Ankpa junction, Obu Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA. The assailants escaped through Ankpa road in Kogi State”.
Miss Gabriel, a successful business entrepreneur, was said to have just finished her one year mandatory National Youth Service last month in Kogi State.
Dr Agbo, who is the spokesman of the Minority Caucus and chairman House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics, urged the youths to steer clear from crimes and criminalities, adding that, the combined operatives of the various security agencies and local vigilante groups in the constituency would be given adequate support to clampdown on those in the business of inflicting pains on innocent citizens.
“It is very unfortunate that, the stories we hear from afar are now staring at us in our locality every day. This is strange and barbaric! Those behind these crimes and criminalities should desist forthwith or have the security agencies and the local vigilante to contend with. We are poised to giving them all the necessary supports to make our constituency crime free”, Agbo added.
While commending governor Samuel Ortom and deputy governor Benson Abounu for being proactive and for effectively managing the crisis in Okpokwu, the Member called on the security operatives to intensify efforts at rescuing the abducted innocent citizens and the stolen bus, praying for the eternal repose of the souls of those killed.
