Police Say Benue Hospital Director Was Arrested by Abuja Team, Not Abducted
Benue State Police say the Medical Director of Multicare Hospital in Makurdi, Dr Jonah Ogbaji, was arrested by police operatives and was not abducted as initially feared by his family.
Ogbaji was taken from the hospital at about 9pm on September 23 while attending to patients.
His removal from the hospital initially triggered concern that he had been kidnapped.
Police later said operatives of the Special Tactical Squad attached to the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja carried out the arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation.
The specific subject of that investigation has not been publicly disclosed.
Family initially feared abduction
Ogbaji’s family raised concern after people who arrived at the hospital took him away.
His daughter told PUNCH that the family initially believed he had been abducted and appealed for information about his whereabouts.
Benue Police later rejected the abduction account.
Command spokesperson DSP Peter Aondongu said Ogbaji had been arrested at the hospital by the Abuja-based police team.
Police did not disclose the alleged offence or the circumstances under investigation.
Reason for arrest remains undisclosed
The Benue State Command said it did not have full details of the investigation being handled by the Force Intelligence Department team.
Separate reporting said Ogbaji was initially taken to A Division Police Station in Makurdi after the arrest.
That account does not establish his current location or continuing custody arrangements.
No verified source reviewed by IDNN establishes that Ogbaji has been formally charged, arraigned, entered a plea, been remanded by a court, granted bail or released.
Those legal stages should not be assumed from the fact of his arrest.
Key legal questions remain
The police clarification resolves the immediate question of whether Ogbaji was taken by unidentified kidnappers or arrested by law-enforcement officers.
It does not explain why he was arrested.
The next material information is the nature of the investigation, his current legal status, whether he has access to counsel and whether police will bring any formal charge.
Until those details are established, the evidence-supported position remains limited: police say Ogbaji was arrested by operatives attached to the Force Intelligence Department.
An arrest does not establish guilt.