Mother’s Warning Saves Daughter from Suspected Abduction Attempt in Makurdi

Quick thinking and a timely warning from her mother prevented a young woman from falling victim to what is suspected to be another abduction attempt by a commercial motorcyclist in Makurdi on Monday.

According to a detailed account shared by the victim’s father on social media under the handle D’nkaked Elder Sugnhnen Yaaya, the incident occurred as his daughter boarded an okada from Gboko Road heading to High Level. As they approached the Wurukum area, the middle-aged rider reportedly requested permission to divert to Awe Street to pick up a parcel.

The daughter immediately recalled a frightening story she had been forwarded by her mother just days earlier—a viral account of another woman who claimed she was lured to the same Awe Street location and narrowly escaped being taken into a suspected “human slaughtering house.”

Acting on the warning, the young woman firmly refused the detour. When the rider persisted, she invented an excuse, telling him her mother had asked her to buy something from Sudo Pee supermarket, which they were already nearing. The rider reportedly agreed without argument, took her to the supermarket, and even offered to wait outside so they could later proceed via a street beside the State Library—another route leading toward Awe Street.

Uncomfortable with the suggestion, the daughter entered the supermarket, called her father, and explained the situation. The rider followed her a few steps inside before speaking to her in the Tiv language: “Ungu Tiv shi Ufa kwagha nahan yem kwagha wough,” roughly translating to an acknowledgment that she was a “good Tiv girl.” He then allowed her to go unharmed.

The father described the escape as divine intervention, stating he has been praising God ever since and urged all residents—especially parents and young women in Makurdi—to remain extremely vigilant. He stressed that such stories circulating online are real and should not be dismissed.

The incident comes amid growing public concern over repeated reports linking Awe Street and surrounding areas in Wurukum to alleged abduction attempts, often involving commercial motorcyclists who request unscheduled detours under pretexts such as collecting parcels or buying fuel.

The mother, identified in related reports as Mrs. Janice Ngumomom Pine, had earlier forwarded the initial viral abduction escape story to her daughters as a precaution. Her advice proved lifesaving when her daughter encountered an eerily similar situation.

As of the time of this report, the Benue State Police Command has not issued an official statement confirming or investigating the latest claim, nor has there been any public update on earlier reports of suspicious activities in the Awe Street vicinity. Residents continue to call for heightened security presence, increased patrols, and thorough probes into the recurring abduction alerts.

The close call has once again amplified warnings for commuters—particularly women using okada—to exercise extreme caution: share ride details with family or friends, refuse unnecessary detours, and alight immediately if a rider suggests branching to Awe Street or similar isolated locations for any reason.