Benue: Six Mourners Carrying Corpse Kidnapped

Benue: Gunmen Abduct Six Mourners Carrying Woman’s Corpse

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted six persons transporting the remains of a woman from Kano State to Okpoga, headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, for burial.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30, along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area.

According to reports, the deceased woman’s husband and five other mourners were travelling in a vehicle when the attackers intercepted them and took all six occupants into the bush.

The gunmen reportedly abandoned the woman’s corpse along the road.

The remains were subsequently discovered by personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday morning and taken to a police station in Adoka before being deposited in a mortuary.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident, describing it as traumatic. He disclosed that the driver of the vehicle was his friend.

Ogiri said security agencies, local vigilantes and community youths were making efforts to track down the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.

The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the abduction, stating that security operatives were working to rescue the victims.

Meanwhile, reports concerning the ransom demand have differed. Punch Newspapers quoted a sympathiser and the local government chairman as putting the demand at ₦15 million, while Leadership cited a security source who reported ₦20 million.

As of the latest reports on Monday, November 2, the six victims had not been confirmed rescued.

The incident has renewed concerns about insecurity along the Otukpo-Adoka axis, which has experienced previous kidnapping incidents.