Benue Kidnappers Release Husband, Five Mourners After ₦2.5m Ransom Payment

Kidnappers have released a man and five other mourners abducted while transporting his late wife’s remains for burial in Benue State after their families reportedly paid ₦2.5m ransom.

The six victims regained their freedom between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday, November 4, following their abduction along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area on Friday.

The victims were travelling to Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area when gunmen intercepted their vehicle at about 8pm. The deceased woman had reportedly died in Kano, and her husband and five other mourners were conveying her body to Benue for burial when the attackers struck.

The kidnappers abandoned the corpse by the roadside and demanded ₦15 million for the release of the six occupants.

However, a source told newsmen that the victims regained their freedom after their families reportedly paid ₦2.5 million.

“The six kidnap victims were released early hours of today after family paid ₦2.5 million,” the source said.

Confirming their release, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims regained their freedom between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

“It’s true that the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday,” he said.

However, Ogiri declined to confirm whether the families paid ransom to secure their release.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command said it had yet to receive official confirmation of the victims’ release.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said, “I am yet to get the report of the release of the kidnap victims,” as quoted by the Punch.