The Benue State Police Command has dismissed reports that the Chief Medical Director of Multicare Hospital, Makurdi, Dr Jonah Ogbaji, was abducted, saying he was arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department in connection with an ongoing investigation.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, made this known in a statement on Thursday while responding to reports of the doctor’s alleged abduction that had circulated widely on social media.
According to Aondongu, Ogbaji was arrested at his hospital along Ankpa Road, Makurdi, on Wednesday night by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja.
“The doctor was not abducted. He was arrested yesterday at his hospital by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad (STS) attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja, in connection with an ongoing investigation,” the police spokesperson said.
He added that the Benue Command was yet to receive details about the specific circumstances surrounding the investigation.
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Reports of the alleged abduction had emerged after the doctor was reportedly taken away at about 9pm on Wednesday while attending to patients at the hospital.
The development generated concern across the state, with social media users describing the incident as a possible kidnapping.
However, the police urged members of the public to disregard the reports, insisting that the doctor was arrested and not abducted.
Ogbaji is also a former two-term ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing the North-Central zone.