Some of the victims abducted along the Otukpo-Ogbobia Road in Benue State have regained their freedom after gunmen released the driver, the corpse of an elderly woman, and one of her three children.
The abductors are, however, still holding two of the siblings and are demanding a N30 million ransom for their release. Family sources say the kidnappers have established contact and relatives are working to raise the ransom while urging security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the captives.
The family was reportedly travelling from Abuja to Oklenyi in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State for the burial of their late mother when their vehicle broke down along the Otukpo-Ogbobia Road. While stranded, they were allegedly ambushed and kidnapped by armed men.
The remains of the deceased woman have since been taken to Okpoga, where funeral rites are already underway. The development has left the family with mixed feelings — relieved to have recovered the body of their late mother for burial, but still deeply worried about the fate of the two siblings in captivity.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not issued any official statement regarding the incident.
