In a distressing incident that shook the local community near Makurdi, Mrs. Abigail Orbunde, the wife of Mr. Terwase Orbunde—a former Chief of Staff to Benue State’s ex-Governor Samuel Ortom—and her maid, Patience Ogute, were recently victims of a harrowing kidnapping.
The event unfolded last Friday when armed individuals, believed to be herders, ambushed the family. They were at Mr. Orbunde’s farm, which is situated along the Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital.
During the attack, the assailants shot Mr. Orbunde in the arm, a violent act that led to his current hospitalization. In the chaos, the attackers seized Mrs. Orbunde and her maid, spiriting them away to an unknown location.
Shortly thereafter, the kidnappers contacted the Orbunde family, demanding a ransom of N100 million for the safe return of the abducted women.
The community and the Orbunde family were plunged into anxiety and fear as negotiations ensued. The news of their eventual release came through a statement published on the verified social media handle of Mr. Tahav Agerzua, a close associate of the family.
He announced: “Mrs. Orbunde and her maid regained their freedom on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, after an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom to their abductors, who had demanded N100 million.”
Mr. Agerzua added that the captives endured four days of severe distress before their release. Following their liberation, Mrs. Orbunde and Ms. Ogute were immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention, reuniting there with relieved family members.
In the aftermath, Mrs. Orbunde publicly thanked those involved in securing their release, acknowledging the ordeal they faced during the captivity. She stated her deep gratitude towards God for their deliverance, underlining the hardships endured. Her husband, still under medical care for his gunshot wound, echoed this sentiment.
He expressed his gratitude to God and to all the friends, family, and well-wishers whose prayers and financial support were crucial in navigating this crisis and ensuring the safe return of his wife and their maid.
