Unidentified gunmen in Nigeria’s southeast Abia State have kidnapped four journalists, including the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)Wahab Oba, local media reported Sunday.
The journalists were returning from a three-day National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, when the kidnappers ambushed them on the Uyo-Abia road at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted a journalist who escaped during the encounter Yemi Akintunde of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as saying that the kidnappers are asking the national secretariat of the NUJ for a 250 million naira ransom to free the journalists.
No official confirmation as at the time of filling this report, as the state police spokesperson is not available for comment.
Abduction is common in Nigeria. Over 300 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed after paying a ransom.