The Digest:
Six travellers have been kidnapped along the Naka–Makurdi road in Benue State in the early hours of Tuesday, with abductors demanding N100 million ransom. The incident occurred at Kula village in Gwer West Local Government Area, a short distance from the state capital. According to a relative of one victim, the seven-member group was travelling from Ilorin and had stopped overnight in Ankpa, Kogi State, due to safety concerns. About 20 minutes from Makurdi, their vehicle was intercepted by armed men. One passenger escaped, but six, three men and three women, were taken into the bush. Gwer West Council Chairperson Omnin Torsar confirmed the attack occurred around 5 a.m. but could not immediately confirm victim numbers. Police spokesperson Udeme Edet said she had not received an official report. The Naka–Makurdi road had recently seen reduced attacks after security deployments.
Key Points:
- The kidnapping renews fears on a highway that had recently become safer.
- It highlights the fragile nature of security gains in Benue's transport corridors.
- Victims' families face anguish and ransom pressure, while travel safety erodes.
- This signals the resurgence of abduction attacks despite previous security improvements.
- The timing, with a N100m demand, reflects the commercialisation of kidnapping.
Six travellers abducted near Makurdi face a N100m ransom demand, as police are yet to receive an official report on the latest Benue kidnapping.
Sources: Premium Times, Benue State Police Command
