Gunmen abducted Mr. Joshua Rogers, a journalist and reporter for Channels Television on Thursday night, at his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Rogers, known for covering the activities of the Rivers State Government House, was reportedly followed by the assailants after leaving work.
Upon arriving at his residence and preparing to exit his car, he was confronted by the criminals who brandished a firearm, forcefully taking him and his vehicle to an undisclosed location around 9 pm.
An anonymous source disclosed that the reporter, who wishes to remain unnamed, had previously attended an event in Ndoni within the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre.
The facility, constructed and gifted to the state, was provided by the PAMO Educational Foundation, established by former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, on Thursday.
The source said, “yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.
“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not moneybags. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”
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It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up several calls put across to her by PUNCH Online.
Iringe-Koko has also yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of publication on Friday morning.