The Benue State Police Command says it has arrested a lecturer at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr Ichor Tersagh Smart, for allegedly engineering the abduction of wife of his colleague, Mrs Susan Anyagh.
Mrs Susan Anyagh was ambushed and kidnapped by some gunmen along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, last Saturday.
Her husband, Paul Anyagh, is the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, JOSTUM chapter.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, in a statement on Friday, December 13, 2024, said that the woman was found along Yandev-Ugbema Road after the abduction and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu, for treatment.
SP Anene said that after the woman had regained consciousness, gave insight into how her husband’s colleague, who took a position near the scene of abduction, declined her request for help when she beckoned on him to save her life.
According to police spokesperson, the victim said the lecturer just walked away.
However, while moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from the same Dr. Ichor, who allegedly ordered the abductors to kill her.
SP Anene stated, “On the 7/12/2024 at about 0900hrs information was received at Police Headquarters, Makurdi, that Mrs. Susan Anyagh, wife of the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Joseph Sawuaan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) chapter was kidnapped along Otukpo road, Makurdi and taken hostage in her car that was being driven to an unknown destination.
“In quick response, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State command, Cp. Steve H. Yabanet, FCID psc(+) immediately ordered all patrol officers and check points to ensure her rescue and arrest of kidnappers involved.
“At about 1300hrs another information was received along Yandev-Ugbema road that the said victim was attacked by her assailants and left unconscious by the road side. She was identified and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu for treatment.
“When the victim subsequently regained her consciousness at the hospital, she stated that while she was driving from NNPC mega fuel station, Kanshio where she went to collect money from her customer, she was flagged down at Otukpo road by persons who claimed to be in need and she stopped to render help.
“They quickly jumped into her car and pointed a gun at her, ordered her to drive towards the Wurukum area. Immediately, she looked outside the car and saw her husband’s colleague; Dr. Ichor Tersagh Smart of JOSTUM standing by the car, she beckoned on him for help but he turned his back and walked away.
“While moving in the vehicle, her abductors received a call from Dr. Ichor ordered that she should be killed and she became agitated.
“When they sighted a police check point ahead that was checking vehicles, they decided to reverse to a hidden place, they parked the car, brought her out, collected the sum of one million three hundred and fifty thousand naira ( N1,350,000 ) she had in the car, opened the car boot and took a vehicle jack which they used to hit the back of her neck and she fell.
“She was identified and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu for treatment.”
