Daud Olatunji
Six mourners, including a man conveying his deceased wife’s remains for burial, have regained their freedom after spending several days in the hands of kidnappers in Benue State.
The victims were reportedly released in the early hours of Wednesday following the payment of ₦2.5m ransom, despite the abductors initially demanding ₦15m for their freedom.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the victims were kidnapped at about 8pm on Friday along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state while travelling to Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area.
The victims were said to be transporting the remains of the man’s wife, who reportedly died in Kano State, for burial when armed men intercepted their vehicle and whisked them away.
The kidnappers reportedly abandoned the woman’s corpse on the highway before taking the six occupants captive and demanding ₦15m as ransom.
A source familiar with the development disclosed that the victims regained their freedom after their families reportedly raised and paid ₦2.5m to secure their release.
“The six kidnap victims were released early hours of today after family paid N2.5 million,” the source said.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday.
Ogiri, however, declined to confirm whether ransom was paid to secure their freedom.
“It’s true that the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday,” he said.
However, the Benue State Police Command said it had yet to receive official confirmation of the victims’ release as of the time of the report.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he was still awaiting information on the development.
“I am yet to get the report of the release of the kidnap victims,” he said.
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