A journalist with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, Salis Manaja, has been kidnapped by armed men while travelling through Kogi State.

Manaja was reportedly abducted on Saturday while on his way from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Ilorin, Kwara State, where he was expected to attend the PRNigeria Young Communication Scholars Fellowship. The incident occurred along a highway that has become notorious for frequent bandit attacks and kidnappings.

Confirming the report, Dahiru Muhammad-Lawal, Head of Innovation and Special Projects at PRNigeria, said the organisation was deeply disturbed by the incident. He revealed that after losing contact with Manaja on Saturday, his colleagues managed to reach him briefly through the number of his abductors on Sunday afternoon.

“We were expecting to see him in Ilorin on Saturday, but his line became unreachable after he confirmed his departure from Abakaliki,” Lawal said. “We eventually managed to speak with him through his abductors’ number, and we are working with security agencies to secure his release.”

The management of IMPR has since contacted law enforcement and other relevant authorities to help rescue the journalist safely. The kidnapping has once again drawn attention to the rising wave of insecurity across Nigeria’s highways and the growing dangers faced by journalists and field correspondents.