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A chilling account of an alleged abduction and narrow escape has emerged from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, raising fresh alarm over the safety of commuters, particularly women using commercial motorcycles at night.
The survivor, a resident of Adeke identified only by her account shared with neighbours and later circulated widely on social media, narrated how she was reportedly lured and held captive in December 2025 after boarding a commercial motorcycle (okada) while returning home from a religious programme.
According to the woman, she had attended the Festival of Glory organised by the Remnant Christian Network (RCN) along International Market Road. Short on funds, she initially trekked part of the journey before a friend advised her to take a motorcycle for safety reasons around 8:30 p.m.
She described the rider as an elderly-looking man who, after agreeing on the fare and destination, allegedly diverted from the route under the pretext of buying fuel at Wurukum. He later claimed he needed to collect a parcel at Awe Street.
Upon arrival at a residence behind the State Library in Wurukum, the rider reportedly asked her to wait outside with two young men while he went inside. After waiting approximately 45 minutes and sensing danger, the woman said the two men seized her phone and forcibly dragged her into the building.
Inside, she claimed to have encountered about ten other young women, one of whom was crying, unclothed, and visibly distressed. The crying woman allegedly told her she had been abducted earlier that morning while travelling to Ilorin, lured by another motorcycle rider under the guise of picking up a waybill.
The survivor further alleged that she was taken into another room where she saw blood-stained tables, buckets reportedly filled with human blood, and an assortment of knives — leading her to believe she had been brought to a “human slaughter house.”
In a dramatic turn, she said her persistent prayers and resistance eventually prompted the gang leader to order her release, initially without her belongings. After further confrontation, her phone and footwear were returned, and she was escorted out of the premises. She later found another motorcycle and made it home safely.
The harrowing story, which first gained traction through a Facebook post and was amplified by social media personality Blackkk Barbie, has triggered widespread concern and calls for caution. Blackkk Barbie urged residents, especially women, to avoid using commercial motorcycles late at night or in the early hours and to always share their location with trusted contacts.
As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain official confirmation or comment from security agencies have been unsuccessful. Residents of the Wurukum axis, however, have called for an increased security presence and a thorough investigation to verify the claims and prevent potential criminal activities in the area.
The incident has once again spotlighted the persistent security challenges faced by commuters in parts of Makurdi, particularly women travelling alone after dark, and renewed demands for stronger measures to protect vulnerable road users in Benue State.
