Gunmen have abducted six persons, including the husband of a deceased woman, who were transporting her corpse from Kano State to Okpoga in Benue State for burial, abandoning the woman’s body on a highway in the process.
The incident occurred on Friday at about 8 p.m. along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, when the victims’ vehicle was reportedly intercepted by armed men.
The abducted persons comprised the husband of the deceased and five others who were accompanying him on the journey to convey the body to Okpoga, in Okpokwu Local Government Area, for burial.
According to sources who spoke with Tribune, the gunmen stopped the vehicle along the road, forced the six occupants into the bush and left the corpse on the highway.
A source familiar with the incident said the man had travelled from Kano with the body of his wife, who died in the state, when the attack occurred.
The source explained that the vehicle arrived in the Adoka area at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday before the occupants were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
The source further disclosed that the victims had remained in captivity as of Monday, adding that the kidnappers had contacted the family and demanded a ransom of ₦15 million for their release.
The abandoned corpse was reportedly discovered on Saturday by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who subsequently took it to a police station in Adoka.
The police later deposited the body in a morgue.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, described the abduction as unfortunate and traumatic, disclosing that the driver of the vehicle was his personal friend.
“Yes, it happened. Incidentally, the driver of the vehicle is my friend. This is the unfortunate incident we are seeing. It is really traumatic,” Ogiri said.
The council chairman also confirmed that the kidnappers were demanding ₦15 million as ransom for the release of the six victims.
He, however, said security agencies were making efforts to track down the abductors and secure the victims’ freedom.
Ogiri added that local vigilante groups and youths in the area were also actively involved in efforts to rescue the kidnapped persons.
“Also, our vigilantes and youths are not resting in their efforts to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued,” he said.
The spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the abduction, stating that the incident occurred on Friday and that police operatives were working to rescue the victims.
“It’s true, the incident happened on Friday, and our men are making efforts to rescue the victims,” Aondongu said.
The abduction has further raised concerns over the security situation along Adoka Road and other routes in Benue State, particularly as travellers continue to face the threat of armed attacks and kidnapping.