Gunmen abduct 6 travellers on Benue road

Gunmen on Tuesday morning abducted six travellers near Kula village along the dilapidated Naka–Makurdi Road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Our correspondent reports that the kidnappers, within the space of two hours after the abduction, have opened talks with the victims’ families, demanding N100 million for their release.

Witnesses said the victims, made up of three men and three women, were travelling in a convoy when their vehicles were intercepted in the early hours of Tuesday.

It was gathered that four of the abducted people are reportedly members of Ansaarudeen who had departed Ilorin on Monday and arrived in Naka late at night.

They were said to have lodged overnight before resuming their journey around 5am, only to run into the armed men.

Some witnesses, however, claimed that the victims spent Monday night in the Ankpa area of Kogi State before proceeding to Makurdi at 5am, only to be intercepted by the gunmen in Kula community, close to Makurdi.

One of the victims’ husbands confirmed the development, stating that the kidnappers had contacted families about two hours after the abduction, demanding N100 million ransom.

“They are six – three males and three females. Negotiations are ongoing on how to raise the money,” he said.

Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Ormin, confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi, describing the victims as travellers who were attacked while moving in a convoy.

“It’s true, I have confirmed the abduction. I was told they left Naka around 5am before they ran into bandits who abducted some of them,” Ormin said.

He added that the incident occurred near Makurdi along the Naka–Makurdi axis but could not immediately confirm the exact number of victims.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to respond to calls and messages put through her telephone on the incident as of press time.

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