Gunmen kidnap Kogi Magistrate, Sam Unwuchola, demand N100m ransom

A Magistrate with Kogi State Judiciary, Mr Sam Unwuchola, has been abducted by unknown gunmen on Ajaokuta-Lokoja road.

An eye-witness who prefers anonymity, told our correspndent that the magistrate who was returning from Onyedega, his station, in company of a friend, was kidnapped at Jimgbe, near Salem University, Lokoja at about 7pm Thursday.

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

The bandits, according to him, shot at the Magistrate’s friend who was on the passenger’s seat, adding that the bullet had almost removed the left eye and shattering his cheek bone.

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 told journalists that the kidnappers had made contact with the wife of the kidnapped magistrate and have demanded N100 million ransom.

Mrs Unwuchola was said to have pleaded with the kidnappers to have mercy on her asking where the family cannot afford such amount of money.

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

Unwuchola, a 2002 Law graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma is currently the President, Upper Area Court, Onyedega, Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.