Gunmen have abducted a bereaved man and five other people who were travelling from Kano State to Benue State with the remains of his deceased wife for burial.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30, along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were travelling to Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area, where the deceased woman was expected to be buried.
According to reports, the husband, who resides in Kano, was accompanied by five other people when their vehicle was intercepted by the armed men along the route.
The attackers reportedly took all six occupants into the bush but left the woman’s corpse inside the abandoned vehicle.
The incident came to public attention after residents discovered the vehicle and the deceased woman’s body along the road on Saturday morning.
Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reportedly arrived at the scene, recovered the corpse and took it to the police station in Adoka. The body was subsequently deposited in a mortuary pending further arrangements.
KIDNAPPERS DEMAND ₦15 MILLION RANSOM
A community member, Meddy Olotu, who raised the alarm over the incident, disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the victims’ relatives and demanded ₦15 million for their release.
Olotu said he had spoken with members of the affected family, who confirmed that the abductors had established communication with them.
He explained that the victims had travelled from Kano with the deceased woman’s remains and were approaching their destination when communication with their relatives suddenly stopped.
According to him, the family later learnt that the travellers had been taken away by the gunmen, leaving the corpse behind.
He expressed concern over the situation, noting that the family was already dealing with the painful loss of the woman and had now been confronted with the additional challenge of securing the release of six abducted persons.
OTUKPO COUNCIL CHAIRMAN CONFIRMS INCIDENT
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the abduction, describing it as a disturbing and traumatic development.
Ogiri disclosed that the driver of the vehicle was his personal friend, adding that he was deeply concerned about the incident.
He also confirmed that the kidnappers were demanding ₦15 million.
The council chairman assured that security agencies were working to locate the abductors and secure the victims’ freedom.
He further disclosed that local vigilante groups and youths were supporting efforts to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped persons.
POLICE COMMENCE RESCUE EFFORTS
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the incident.
According to him, the abduction occurred on Friday, and security operatives were making efforts to rescue the victims.
The incident has renewed concerns about insecurity along the Otukpo–Adoka and surrounding routes, which have witnessed several reported kidnapping cases.
In a similar incident in July 2026, three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with their late mother’s remains were reportedly abducted along the Ogobia–Adoka Road in Ohimini Local Government Area.
Other kidnapping incidents have also been reported along the Otukpo–Adoka corridor.
As of the latest reports on Monday, November 2, the six victims had yet to be released, while efforts by security agencies and local vigilantes to secure their freedom were ongoing.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of travellers, particularly families transporting the remains of deceased relatives across the state.
