Gunmen kidnap Kogi Magistrate, Demand N100m Ransom

By Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

A Magistrate with Kogi State Judiciary, Mr. Sam Unwuchola has been abducted by some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along Ajaokuta-Lokoja road.

 An eye-witness account who disclosed this to THISDAY on Friday said the magistrate was returning from Onyedega, his station, in the company of a friend, was kidnapped at Jimgbe, near Salem University, Lokoja at about 7pm Thursday. 

The source said the Magistrate and his friend ran into the hoodlums who opened fire on them forcing them to stop. 

According to him, the gunmen shot  at the Magistrate’s friend who was on the passenger’s seat adding that the bullet almost ripped off the left eye but shattered the cheek bones.

The wounded friend of Unwuchola whose identity is not immediately known, he added, was rushed to an undisclosed medical facility in Lokoja for treatment. 

Confirming the incident, an authoritative source from the state judiciary on Friday told us  that the kidnappers had gotten in touch with the wife of the kidnapped magistrate and demanded N100 million ransom. 

Mrs. Unwuchola was said to have pleaded with the kidnappers to have mercy on her asking where the family would get the money from and the kidnappers cut the line on her.

 Contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ali Janga said the police was still investigating the matter.