Gunmen abducted Joshua Rogers, a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night. Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House, was reportedly followed home after work and taken along with his vehicle around 9 pm.
According to a source, Rogers had earlier covered an event at Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre. The source appealed to the kidnappers to release Rogers unharmed, emphasizing that he is a journalist and not a wealthy individual.
The kidnappers have allegedly contacted Rogers' wife and demanded N30 million as ransom for his release. Efforts to confirm the incident from the State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful as calls to her went unanswered, and she did not respond to text messages.
The abduction of Joshua Rogers highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by journalists and residents in Rivers State. The situation underscores the need for improved security measures to ensure the safety of individuals in the state.
