Tordue Salem, the missing reporter covering the legislative activities of the House of Representatives for the Vanguard newspaper has been found dead.
The Benue-born journalist went missing after close of work on the 13th of October, 2021 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Unfortunately, he was never seen until his remains were found in the mortuary in Abuja on Thursday by the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Security Focus gathered that he was last seen in the company of a female family member on the 13th of October when he alighted from a taxi, close to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. According to the relative, he reportedly flagged a cab for her as they departed, informing her that he was going to Area 8, Garki.
The intelligence response team led by DCP, Tunji Disu, commenced investigations three days after the disappearance of Tordue Salem.
The police arrested a suspect by the name, Prince Enyenihi, who attempted to extort Salem’s family. He had contacted the wife of the journalist via a text message sent with a hidden number, requesting for ransom of N100 million.
Mrs. Salem requested to speak with her husband but noticed that the voice wasn’t of her husband. Apparently, the caller gave the phone to an accomplice who played along.
The Police de-encrypted the hidden number used in reaching for ransom and traced its owner to a female beautician in Port Harcourt.
Investigations further revealed that the arrested 25 years old suspect, Prince Enyenihi was a next-door neighbor to the beautician. The lady, who owns Joy Skin Care denied culpability but admitted that a particular number had been calling her line since October 26, 2021.
According to the suspect, he got the information of Tordue Salem’s disappearance on a social media flier, which had the number of Mrs. Salem as the contact person.
He confessed he got his neighbour’s telephone number and account details from her Facebook page, after admitting to have cloned her telephone number and dropped her banking details to receive a ransom in vengeance to punish her for being disrespectful to him in the past.
More details shortly…