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A heartbreaking story has emerged from Makurdi, the Benue State capital, that has left many Nigerians in shock and anger. A young motorcycle taxi operator popularly known as Abbah was brutally murdered in cold blood simply because his new Honda motorcycle was snatched from him by armed robbers.
According to a detailed account posted by a businessman identified as Alhassan, Abbah had been riding commercial motorcycles for years without ever owning one, despite being a registered motorcyclist with the Benue State Government. Moved by his dedication and sad story, Alhassan went out of his way two weeks ago to secure a brand-new Honda motorcycle for Abbah through a hire-purchase arrangement, allowing him to pay in installments until the bike became fully his.
Tragedy struck barely days later. Last week, when Abbah failed to make his weekly payment, the motorcycle manager visited his home to find out why. Neighbors revealed that Abbah had not been seen in three days, an unusual occurrence. Calls to his phone went unanswered. Alarm bells rang.
After days of searching, the worst was confirmed this morning. With the help of a troop of Army officers who used Abbah’s Okada association ID card to trace his residence, his decomposing body was discovered in a bush immediately behind NASME barracks in North Bank, Makurdi. The sight was gruesome: his stomach had been punctured, his skull shattered. He had been tortured and killed with extreme brutality. Several weapons were reportedly recovered from the scene.
The businessman who helped Abbah acquire the bike made it clear he was not speaking merely as someone who lost an asset. Even in grief, he insisted on funding the full Islamic burial rites for Abbah, ensuring the young man was laid to rest with dignity the same day, in line with Islamic tradition.
But beyond the personal loss, the post has ignited outrage over the deteriorating security situation in the country. “When have we gotten to the point in this country where there is no assurance of leaving your house and returning alive?” Alhassan wrote. “Abbah died in search of survival. Our lives and properties are no longer secured.”
The incident has once again spotlighted the vulnerability of commercial motorcyclists, often targeted by criminals because they carry cash and ride valuable bikes on lonely routes. In many states, including Benue, okada riders have become soft targets for robbers, kidnappers, and ritual killers.
As citizens mourn yet another preventable death, many are asking: how many more young men must die trying to earn an honest living before the government takes decisive action to protect the most vulnerable?
Abbah’s blood, like that of countless others, cries out for justice. May his soul rest in peace, and may his killers never know peace until they are brought to book.
