Six Persons kidnapped in Benue

• kidnappers demand 100 m ransom from families of victims

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Six persons in the hours of Tuesday were reportedly kidnapped by bandits at Kula village, along the Makurdi – Naka road, about twenty minutes drive close to Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Peoples Daily gathered that among those that were abducted are three males and three females even as it was also learnt that out of the six persons, four of them are alleged to be members of Ansaarudeen, a Muslim group.

As at the time of filing this report, the Police Command was yet to confirm the incident. The Police Public Relations’ Officer DSP Edet Udeme when contacted said, “I will get back to you”.

But the Chairman, Gwer-West Local Government Area (LGA), Victor Ormin, confirmed the incident stating that the victims who took off from Ilorin on Monday, arrived Naka very late; slept there and took off at about 5am on Tuesday morning, only for their vehicle to be intercepted and six of the passengers kidnapped, shortly before they were billed to enter Makurdi.

Ormin explained that the victims were traveling in a convoy when they ran into the bandits, who abducted some of them.

According to him, “It’s true, I have confirmed the abduction of the victims. I was told that they left Naka around 5am this morning traveling in a convoy before they ran into bandits who abducted some of them.

“The incident happened close to Makurdi but along Makurdi – Naka road. I don’t have the number of people abducted.”

Families sources told Journalists that the kidnappers have opened up discussions with them demanding for the payment of N100 million ransom for their release.

As at the time of compiling this report, a family member of one of the victims stated that they were still negotiating on reaching an agreement on how to pay the ransom.

Bit should be noted that Benue State has become a den of kidnappers as no week passes without abduction of persons.

Recall that 9 worshippers were kidnapped in Ojije, Utonkon in Ado LGA on 7 February, 2026 while observing a night vigil and another 16 passengers said to be traveling from Oju/Obi to Western part of the country, were abducted between Ado/Okpokwu border.