BENIN— EDO STATE ,yesterday, witnessed yet another kidnapping case as a Deputy Director in the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, along with his driver, were kidnapped by gunmen between Auchi and Ekpoma.

The director, simply identified as Dr. Abubakar, a vetinarian, Vanguard learnt, was said to be on his way to Benin to represent the Minister of Agriculture at the Annual Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria holding in the Edo State capital, Benin City, when he was abducted.

The director, who was riding in a Hilux Jeep, was said to have had lunch with his driver at Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, where he spoke with his Field Office in Benin informing them that he was on his way.
He later informed the Benin Office that he was being held somewhere in Benin.

He, thereafter, handed over the phone to the kidnappers who told the officers in Benin to contact the minister and come with the sum of N20 million for their release.

The kidnappers were also said to have contacted the family of Abubakar in Abuja, threatening to kill him and his driver should they fail to deposit the N20 million at a designated location in Benin within 24 hours.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edo State Police Command, Peter Ogboi, said he was yet to be informed of the incident.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/11/gunmen-kidnap-agric-ministrys-director/