Gunmen Kidnap Bereaved Husband, Five Mourners During Wife’s Burial Journey in Benue

A grieving husband and five other mourners have reportedly been abducted by gunmen in Benue State while transporting the remains of his deceased wife from Kano State for burial.

The six victims were said to have been kidnapped at about 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30, along the Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area, as they travelled towards Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area.

According to reports, the armed men intercepted their vehicle, forced the occupants out and abandoned the woman’s corpse at the scene before taking the six people to an undisclosed location.

Abductors Demand ₦15 Million Ransom

Information from the victims’ community indicated that the bereaved husband, who lived in Kano, had travelled with five other people to transport his wife’s remains to their home in Benue State.

Concern reportedly arose when relatives became unable to reach the group after they arrived in the Adoka area.

The situation became more alarming when the kidnappers allegedly contacted the families and demanded ₦15 million for the release of the six victims.

A community member, Meddy Olotu, who raised the alarm, disclosed that the victims had remained in captivity since Friday. He also said a member of one of the families had been communicating with the abductors.

Meanwhile, the woman’s body was reportedly recovered on Saturday by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who took the remains to a police station in Adoka. The corpse was later transferred to a mortuary.

Otukpo Council Chairman, Police Confirm Abduction

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident, describing it as a traumatic development.

Ogiri disclosed that the vehicle’s driver was a personal friend and confirmed that the kidnappers had made a ransom demand.

He added that security agencies were working to track down the abductors and secure the victims’ freedom. According to him, local vigilantes and youths were also assisting with efforts to rescue those in captivity.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the abduction, stating that it occurred on Friday.

He said security operatives were making efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the six victims.

Previous Kidnappings Raise Security Concerns

The latest incident has heightened concerns about the safety of motorists and other travellers along the Otukpo-Adoka corridor, which has reportedly recorded several kidnapping incidents in recent months.

In October, gunmen reportedly abducted Catholic priest Reverend Father John Otache and several other people along a road in Ohimini Local Government Area.

Similarly, 14 passengers travelling towards Abuja were reportedly kidnapped along the Otukpo-Adoka route in August.

For the bereaved family, the abduction has added another painful dimension to an already difficult loss. What began as a journey to give a deceased woman a final resting place has ended with six people being held captive.

As of the latest available reports, there was no official confirmation of the victims’ release or the arrest of any suspects.