A bereaved husband and five other mourners who were abducted in Benue State while transporting his late wife’s body for burial have regained their freedom after their families reportedly paid a N2.5 million ransom.
The six victims were seized at about 8pm on Friday along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area while travelling to Okpoga in Okpokwu LGA. The deceased woman was said to have died in Kano, and the group was conveying her remains to her hometown for burial when gunmen intercepted their vehicle.
During the attack, the kidnappers abandoned the corpse on the highway and took the six occupants of the vehicle hostage. They subsequently demanded a N15 million ransom for the victims’ release.
A source disclosed that the abductees were freed in the early hours of Wednesday after their relatives paid N2.5 million. “The six kidnap victims were released early hours of today after family paid N2.5 million,” the source said.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the release, stating that the victims were freed between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. He, however, declined to comment on whether a ransom was paid.
“It’s true that the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday,” Ogiri said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he had not yet received confirmation of the release. “I am yet to get the report of the release of the kidnap victims,” the police spokesman said.
The incident highlights the persistent security challenges along highways in Benue State, where travellers have repeatedly been targeted by armed groups. The release of the mourners brings an end to an ordeal that began as they made their way to lay the deceased woman to rest.
