Gunmen abduct Channels TV reporter, demand N15m ransom

Gunmen abducted Temitope Kuteyi, a correspondent of Channels Television, in Owerri, Imo state capital on Monday, and demanded N15million ransom for his release.

He was abducted in his house located along Umuguma Specialist Hospital, Owerri, in the early hours of Monday, and his whereabouts has been unknown.

One Thomas, who witnessed the incident, said the bandits numbering about eight, scaled through the fence into the victim’s compound.

“I was in the security room with my brother when someone opened the window and pointed a gun at us and ordered us to open the gate, but I refused,” he said.

“While I was arguing with them, I didn’t know that other members of the gang had climbed into the compound through the fence; they broke into my ‘oga’s’ house and brought him out.

“After that, they entered into the next bungalow and smashed all the window glasses, but the man there escaped through the fence at the back.

“They took his car and drove away with my Oga.”

Meanwhile, the abductors who later contacted a friend of the victim, demanded a ransom of N15 million.

In  a press statement issued by Sam Onwuemeodo, chief press secretary to Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo, the government said it was aware of the incident.

The statement reminded the kidnappers that the victim was only a reporter, accusing them of deciding to inconvenience the victim and his family.

“A journalist cannot afford to pay any ransom. To us he must have been a victim of mistaken identity,” the statement read.