JUST-IN: Medical Director Arrested Not Abducted–Benue Police

The Benue State Police Command has said the Medical Director of Multicare Hospital, Makurdi, Dr. Jonah Ogbaji, was arrested in Makurdi and not abducted as claimed by his family.

In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Orchia Aondongu, the police said Ogbaji was arrested on Wednesday at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation.

The Command explained that the specific circumstances surrounding the investigation were not yet known to the Command.

According to the statement, “The Command has received enquiries regarding reports of the alleged abduction of a medical doctor and owner of a hospital in Makurdi.

“Upon verification, the report is false. The doctor was not abducted. He was arrested yesterday at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation.

“The specific circumstances surrounding the investigation are not yet known to the Command.

“Members of the media and the general public are therefore advised to disregard reports of his alleged abduction or kidnapping, as they are false.”

In a telephone interview earlier, Doctor Ogbaji’s daughter, Patience Ogbaji had confirmed that her father was abducted and taken away by armed men disguised as security operatives.

According to her, the incident happened
last night at about 9:00pm within the premises of the hospital.

She said Ogbaji was attending to patients when some men reportedly arrived in a Toyota Sienna vehicle and took him away.

Patience stated that the family had visited several police stations across Makurdi metropolis but had not establish his whereabouts.

“He was on duty and they took him. Some armed men claimed they were police officers, but so far no station has claimed to have seen him. They took him away in a Toyota Sienna. When the workers on duty asked, they said they were just going there. So they thought they were going to the police division, but it turned out it wasn’t like that,” she said.