Gunmen kidnap six mourners taking corpse to Benue

Gunmen believed to be kidnappers have taken six people who were transporting the corpse of a woman to Okpoga, the main town of the Okpokwu Local Government Area in Benue State.

Sources say the mourners left Kano on Friday to bury the deceased, but their vehicle was stopped along the dangerous Adoka Road. The kidnappers took the passengers away.

Reports say the kidnappers left the corpse behind.

A person who alerted others on social media said, “A man from Kano was carrying the dead body of his wife, who died in Kano, to Okpoga for burial on Friday.

“They left Kano and got to Adoka around 8 pm. The husband and five of his friends were in the vehicle when they were taken along Adoka Road.

“The kidnappers abandoned the dead body while they took the six people into the bush. From Friday till today (Monday), they have not been released. A family member of the victims told me that the kidnappers are asking for N15 million.”

The sympathiser added that officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps found the body on the road on Saturday and took it to the police station in Adoka. Later, the police moved it to the mortuary.

Maxwell Ogiri, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, confirmed the incident to reporters on Monday. He said the vehicle's driver is his friend.

He said, “Yes, it happened. Incidentally, the driver of the vehicle is my friend. This is an unfortunate incident we are seeing. It is really traumatic.

“The kidnappers are asking for N15 million. But the security agencies are trying to track them down. Our vigilantes and youths are also working hard to ensure the kidnapped victims are rescued.”

State command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the incident in a phone interview with reporters on Monday. He said it took place on Friday.

“It’s true; the incident happened on Friday, and our men are working to rescue the victims,” Aondongu said.

The areas around Otukpo, Adoka, and Ohimini have become known for kidnappings lately.

On October 16, gunmen kidnapped Catholic priest Rev. Fr. John Otache and seven others while they were returning from a village market along the Ugbokolo, Ajegbe, Awume Road near Ipiga Village in Ohimini Local Government Area.

Also in August, gunmen took 14 passengers traveling to Abuja along the Otukpo, Adoka Road.