Nigeria: Gunmen Abduct Six Persons Transporting Corpse For Burial in Benue

Gunmen have kidnapped six persons who were transporting the corpse of a woman for burial along Adoka Road in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The husband of the deceased and five others were abducted on Friday at about 8 p.m. while taking her body from Kano to Okpoga in the Okpokwu Local Government Area for burial.

According to sources, the victims' vehicle was intercepted by the gunmen along the road. The kidnappers reportedly took the mourners into the bush and abandoned the woman's body on the highway.

"A man from Kano was carrying the body of his wife, who died in Kano, to Okpoga for burial on Friday," a source said.

"They left Kano and got to Adoka at about 8 p.m. The husband of the deceased and five of his friends were in the vehicle when they were kidnapped along Adoka Road.

"The kidnappers abandoned the dead body while they took the six people to the bush. From Friday until today (Monday), they were yet to be released, while a family member of the victims, whom I know, said the kidnappers were demanding N15 million."

The source added that officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps found the body on Saturday and took it to the police station in Adoka. The police later deposited it in a morgue.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the driver of the vehicle was his friend.

"Yes, it happened. Incidentally, the driver of the vehicle is my friend. This is the unfortunate incident we are seeing. It is really traumatic," he said.

He added that the abductors were demanding N15 million, but security agencies were working to track them down.

"Also, our vigilantes and youths are not resting in their efforts to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued," Ogiri said.

The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the incident on Monday.

"It's true, the incident happened on Friday, and our men are making efforts to rescue the victims," he said.