Gunmen abducted Channels Television journalist and reporter, Mr. Joshua Rogers, from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Thursday night. Rogers, known for covering news related to the Rivers State Government House, was reportedly followed home after finishing work.

The assailants intercepted him as he exited his car, brandishing a firearm, and forcibly took him, along with his vehicle, to an undisclosed location around 9 pm. According to an anonymous source, Rogers had earlier covered an event at a Primary Healthcare Centre inauguration in Ndoni, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara was present.

The facility, donated by the PAMO Educational Foundation, established by former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, was inaugurated on Thursday.

The source pleaded for Rogers’ safe and immediate release, emphasizing his role as a journalist and not a wealthy individual. It was reported that the abductors contacted Rogers’ wife, demanding a ransom of N30 million for his release.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls made to her went unanswered, and she had not responded to text messages as of Friday morning.