Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State to bury their late mother have reportedly been abducted by suspected gunmen along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday and was brought to public attention by citizen journalist Meddy Olotu through a video shared on social media.
According to Olotu, the victims 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 attacked by armed assailants.
He explained that the family experienced mechanical problems during the journey, leaving them stranded for several hours before they eventually resumed their trip at about 2:00 a.m.
“They left Abuja with the corpse of their mother for burial in Iklenyi, but even by 2:00 a.m., they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. Despite that, they continued the journey,” Olotu said.
According to him, suspected kidnappers intercepted the vehicle between Ogobia and Otukpo, abducting the three siblings and reportedly taking away the corpse of their deceased mother.
Describing the incident as heartbreaking, Olotu urged Nigerians to exercise extreme caution while travelling, particularly at night, citing the growing insecurity on major highways across the country.
“If you’re using Nigerian roads at this time, please be very careful. Even travelling during the day is no longer safe, let alone at night. If your journey is not absolutely necessary, stay where you are,” he cautioned.
The citizen journalist also condemned the alleged actions of the kidnappers, saying the incident underscored the disturbing level of brutality among criminal gangs.
“It is sad that these criminals no longer have sympathy or conscience. Imagine kidnapping people conveying the corpse of their mother and even taking away the body,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, and the whereabouts of the victims and the remains of their late mother were yet to be confirmed.
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