Benue: Makurdi doctor was arrested, not abducted – Police
Dr. Jonah Ogbaji, the Medical Director of Multicare Hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, has been located in police custody after being reported kidnapped while at work.
Ogbaji was allegedly taken from the hospital premises in Ankpa Quarters Ward on Wednesday night, which sparked concern among his family and colleagues. According to his daughter, he was forcefully taken away by individuals who arrived in a Toyota Sienna.
In response to his disappearance, family members visited multiple police stations in Makurdi to inquire about his whereabouts. They later learned that Ogbaji had been detained by police operatives dispatched from Abuja, although the reasons for his arrest were not immediately clear.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, clarified that Ogbaji was not abducted but was indeed arrested by a special police squad as part of an ongoing investigation.
“The Command has received enquiries regarding reports of the alleged abduction of a medical doctor and owner of a hospital in Makurdi,” Aondongu said. He emphasized that reports of the doctor’s abduction were false and stated, “He was arrested yesterday (Wednesday) at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department in connection with an ongoing investigation.”
Aondongu noted that the specific details surrounding the investigation leading to the arrest had not yet been disclosed. He urged media representatives and the public to disregard false reports regarding Ogbaji’s alleged abduction.
The police’s clarification has allayed initial fears of kidnapping but left unanswered questions regarding the investigation itself.
