The Benue State Police Command has confirmed an attack on Terwase Orbunde, the former Chief of Staff to the immediate-past Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom. Armed men attacked Orbunde on his farm and abducted his wife and housemaid.
SP Catherine Anene, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, told LEADERSHIP that the attack occurred on Friday evening. Orbunde was reportedly attacked on his farm, and his wife and housemaid were taken by the armed men to an unknown location.
According to Anene, Orbunde sustained a gunshot wound in the attack. The incident occurred near the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital, around 6 p.m. on April 12, 2024.
A close family source revealed that Orbunde, his wife Kashimana, and their house help, Patience Ogute, were inspecting the weeding of his farm when the attack took place.
An eyewitness said that after Orbunde finished inspecting his farm and paying workers, five gunmen suddenly appeared and attacked the victims as they were walking back to their car.
The gunmen opened fire, wounding Orbunde in the right arm, and ordered him, his wife, and the housemaid to follow them. The attack caused villagers and passersby to flee for safety.
As the victims followed the gunmen, Orbunde, who was bleeding and unable to walk quickly, was eventually left behind while the gunmen took the women to an unknown location.
Good Samaritans who arrived at the scene transported Orbunde to the hospital for medical treatment.
