Gunmen, early hours of Friday, kidnapped the chief executive officer of Tito Group of Companies, Chief Asiwaju Isaac Akinkunmi, owner of the popular Titogate eatery in Benue State.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that Akinkunmi, popularly known as Tito, had pledged to support the state and the Federal Government in some of its people-oriented policies, including the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
A witness who said he was Tito’s neighbour, but declined to mention his name, told our correspondent that the incident occurred between 12:30am and 1:30am on Friday.
He said the businessman was abducted after he could not provide the money requested by the heavily armed men.
“The kidnappers were heavily armed. They broke into the new GRA resident of Tito at 12:30am, and for about one hour, they ransacked the home.
“They (kidnappers) picked him (Tito) in his car and drove off. It was this morning that his car was discovered around Lower Benue, where it was abandoned,” the witness said.
Another witness also claimed to have seen Tito’s abandoned vehicle around the Lower Benue Basin Development Authority, along Makurdi – Otukpo road, about five minutes drive away from the new GRA, Makurdi home of the abducted man.
The police spokesperson for Benue Command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident on the state’s police media WhatsApp platform.
Anene stated, “The kidnap of Mr Isaac Akinkumi is confirmed and an investigation is still in progress.