The Benue State Police Command has apprehended Dr. Ichor Tersagh Smart, a lecturer at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi (JOSTUM), for allegedly orchestrating the abduction of Mrs. Susan Anyagh, the wife of his colleague, Mr. Paul Anyagh. Mr. Anyagh serves as the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), JOSTUM chapter.
The victim was ambushed and kidnapped along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
According to the police, Mrs. Anyagh was later discovered unconscious along Yandev-Ugbema Road and was rushed to the Primary Healthcare Clinic in Ameladu for urgent medical care.
In a statement released on Friday, December 13, 2024, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, revealed chilling details of the incident.
After regaining consciousness, Mrs. Anyagh recounted her ordeal, including how she spotted Dr. Ichor, her husband’s colleague, near the scene of her abduction and pleaded for his help, only for him to walk away.
During the abduction, the kidnappers allegedly received a phone call from Dr. Ichor, instructing them to kill Mrs. Anyagh.
The statement further detailed the timeline of events:
“On December 7, 2024, at about 9:00 a.m., information was received at Police Headquarters, Makurdi, that Mrs. Susan Anyagh was kidnapped along Otukpo Road, Makurdi, and taken hostage in her car, which was being driven to an unknown destination.
“In swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Steve H. Yabanet, FCID psc(+), immediately directed patrol officers and all checkpoints to prioritize her rescue and the apprehension of the kidnappers involved.
“At about 1:00 p.m., fresh information was received along Yandev-Ugbema Road that the victim had been attacked by her captors and left unconscious by the roadside. She was quickly identified and rushed to Primary Healthcare Clinic, Ameladu, for treatment.”
Dr. Ichor’s arrest has sparked widespread shock and concern, particularly within the academic community, as investigations continue into his alleged role in the heinous crime. The police have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining security in the state.
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