Gunmen kidnapped Channels Television reporter Joshua Rogers from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Thursday night.
Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for the media outlet, was reportedly followed home after leaving work. The assailants confronted him as he was about to exit his car, held him at gunpoint, and abducted him along with his vehicle around 9 p.m.
According to a source who requested anonymity, Rogers had covered an event earlier in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre. The facility was built and donated by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili.
The source stated, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by unknown gunmen. We appeal to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unharmed. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a wealthy individual, so I don’t understand the purpose of his abduction.”
The kidnappers reportedly contacted his wife, demanding a ransom of N30 million for his release.
Efforts to contact Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to multiple calls or a text message sent by the press as of Friday morning.
