Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the corpse of their late mother were reportedly abducted by suspected bandits in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State in the early hours of Saturday.
The bandits were said to have intercepted the victims around rural communities along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road, between Omutele and Ankpechi villages in Oglewu District, where some marauders reportedly struck a few days earlier.
Recall that a similar incident occurred in the state last week when bandits attacked a bus conveying the corpse of a deceased Customs officer. The bandits reportedly made away with the body of the deceased officer in addition to kidnapping some of the sympathisers going for his burial in the state.
In today’s incident, the three siblings were conveying the remains of their mother, who died in Abuja, to Iklenyi community in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State for burial when they were abducted by the gunmen in the early hours of the day.
Residents said they heard gunshots between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., forcing them to scamper to safety.
Witnesses said the family’s vehicle developed a mechanical fault during the journey, leaving the occupants stranded on the road until about 2:00 a.m.
According to them, the siblings encountered the armed men while attempting to resume their journey after the vehicle broke down.
Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the incident, saying he was on his way to the scene to ascertain what had happened.
“Yes, I’m going to the scene now to ascertain what really happened,” Adole said.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to issue any statement as of the time of filing this report.
