Chairman of Oil Marketers kidnapped in Benue

The chairman of the Independent Oil Marketers in Benue State, Chief Matthew Agbason, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Gboko local government area of Benue State.His abductors are demanding for the sum of N15 million as ransom from the family of their victim.Saturady Vanguard gathered from reliable sources that Agbason was kidnapped Thursday evening, at the front of his Mkar, Gboko residence while driving in an Highlander SUV, adding, “his car was later abandoned on the road and nobody knows where they took him to,” he said.

It was further gathered that the incident has prompted a major protest by his friends and oil marketers who are demanding his unconditional release.The marketers in protest have also resorted to closing down all service stations in Gboko and its environs leading to an acute fuel scarcity in the town.As at the time of filing this report, a litre of the product was selling for as high as N300 at the black market where motorists now source the product.Meantime, there were indications that oil marketers in Makurdi were also holding series of meetings in the state capital and may be forced to close shop until Agbabson is released.When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent, SP, Daniel Ezeala confirmed the incident, explaining that the police had recovered the Highlander SUV the victim was driving before his kidnap.Ezeala said officers at the State Headquaters were working in conjunction with the Area Command in Gboko to ensure the release of the victim, and also apprehend the masterminds of the act.