Crime

Gunmen kidnap Channels TV reporter in Port Harcourt, demand N30m ransom

Published

8 months ago

April 12, 2024

Gunmen have kidnapped a reporter with Channels Television, Mr Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Rogers was abducted by the assailants at about 9 pm on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for his organisation, was reportedly trailed after he closed from work to his residence.

The miscreants accosted him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm.

A source who said he doesn’t want his name mentioned said the reporter had earlier covered an event in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor and Siminalayi Fubara, commissioned a Primary Healthcare Centre.

The facility was built and donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Thursday.

The source said, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.

“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a money bag. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”

It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him.

Channels TV has yet to release an official statement but his cameraman has confirmed the incident.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko on Friday morning, she neither confirmed the abduction nor denied it.