By Lawal Adenike
A reporter with Vanguard newspapers, Tordue Salem, who was reported missing, is dead.
According to reports, he was found dead on Thursday, two days short of one month since his disappearance.
Salem, who covers the House of Representatives, was last seen on October 13, around Total fueling station, close to the Force headquarters, Abuja.
He was said to have headed for B.J’s garden in the company of a female relative after which he boarded a cab for the lady who left before him, informing her that he was going to Area 8, Garki.
The reporter, however, was never seen until his remains were recovered in Abuja on Thursday.
Meanwhile, some suspects, including one Prince Enyenihi, have reportedly been arrested in connection with Salem’s disappearance.
The 25-year-old reportedly sent a text to Salem’s wife with a concealed number demanding N100 million as ransom for her husband’s release.
“If you don’t pay, Tordue will be killed in seven days. For more information, call this number…” the text read.
What followed was a call with an hidden number to the reporter’s wife the next day, Mrs Salem requested to speak with her husband, to confirm he was alive but the caller gave the phone to someone who tried to play along.
The police swung into action first, by de-encrypting the number that called and traced its owner to a lady who owns Joy Skin Care in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
However, during interrogation the lady denied having any involvement in the dissaperance, stating rather, that a particular number had been calling her line since October 26.
Vanguard reported that on further checks, operatives discovered that the number was same with that used to contact Mrs Salem, consequent upon which 25-year-old Enyenihi was arrested on November 15.
It was later discovered that he was next door neighbor to the lady. Enyenihi disclosed that he got information of Salem’s disappearance on a flyer that was used to declare the reporter missing which had the number of Mrs Salem as the contact person to report to if found.
He further stated that he sent the text message through his neighbour’s telephone number and account details from her Facebook page, without her consent.
