A grieving husband and five companions who were transporting his late wife’s remains from Kano State to her hometown in Okpoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State, have secured their release after being kidnapped by armed individuals along Adoka Road in Otukpo LGA.
Our correspondent gathered that the victims regained their freedom on Tuesday night after their relatives allegedly paid a ransom of N2.5 million to their captors.
The victims, according to witnesses, were abducted on Friday at about 8pm while returning from Kano and approaching their destination, barely an hour’s drive from the scene of the attack.
Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the release of the victims between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday.
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Ogiri, who spoke with journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday via telephone, said all six victims had regained their freedom but declined to provide further details.
However, an Idoma community social media influencer, Meddy Olotu, also disclosed that the victims were released at about 11pm on Tuesday after a ransom of N2.5 million was paid, against the initial demand of N15 million for the release of the six abductees.
Olotu said, “N2.5 million was paid alongside 10 plates of food delivered to the abductors before the man who took his wife’s corpse from Kano to Benue was released alongside his five friends.
“The guys in the bush said they were hungry, so they demanded both the money and 10 plates of food.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, had yet to confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report.
What You Should Know
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges along major transit routes in Nigeria, where travelers remain vulnerable to criminal elements even during moments of profound grief.
- Positive Impact: All six victims have been safely reunited with their families following successful negotiations.
- Potential Concerns: The continued reliance on ransom payments underscores the persistent threat of highway kidnappings and the risks faced by citizens traveling across state lines.
