The Vanguard reporter, Mr. Tordue Salem who was reported missing since October 13th, 2021 has been found dead in Abuja. Details of the recovery of his body have not yet been disclosed by the police. Before his demise, Salem was covering the activities of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Abuja for Vanguard newspaper. According to reports, on the day Salem went missing, he closed from work and boarded a cab at Total filling station, close to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Headquarters, Abuja, and headed for BJ’s Garden with a female relative.
He reportedly later flagged down a cab for the lady who departed before him.
However, Salem informed her that he was going to Area 8, Garki but he has been missing since then until his corpse was recovered on Thursday.
The situation was reported to the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), who began investigations on 16th October 2021.
Some arrests were reportedly made including a man who attempted to extort cash from Salem’s family.
The suspect identified as Prince Enyenihi, 25, contacted Salem’s wife via text message with a hidden number and demanded the sum of N100 million for her husband’s release.
The text message reads in part, “if you don’t pay, Tordue will be killed in seven days. For more information, call this number.”
IRT picked up the suspect on 5th November 2021 where he subsequently disclosed that he retrieved Mrs. Salem’s contact information from a flyer on social media.