Gunmen have abducted Mr. Joshua Rogers, a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the late hours of Thursday night.
Rogers, who specializes in covering news from the Rivers State Government House for his organization, was trailed by the assailants after completing his work and returning home.
He was confronted by armed men as he stepped out of his car, and they forcefully took him and his vehicle to an undisclosed location around 9 pm.
A source, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that prior to the abduction, Rogers had covered an event at Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
The event, which saw the inauguration of a Primary Healthcare Centre by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was significant as it was donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor Dr. Peter Odili.
Confirming the abduction, the source emphasized the plea for Rogers’ safe and immediate release, stating, “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 moneybags. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”
Furthermore, it was reported that the perpetrators reached out to Rogers’ wife, demanding a ransom of N30 million for his release.