Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State to bury their late mother have reportedly been abducted by suspected gunmen in Ohimini Local Government Area, plunging an already grieving family into fresh anguish.
The victims were said to have been conveying their mother’s remains to Iklenyi community in Okpokwu Local Government Area for burial when they were attacked in the early hours of Saturday along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road, between Omutele and Ankpechi villages in Oglewu District.
Residents said the incident occurred between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., when several gunshots rang out, forcing people living nearby to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the family’s vehicle had developed a mechanical fault during the journey, leaving the occupants stranded for several hours. After the vehicle was eventually repaired and the journey resumed at about 2:00 a.m., the siblings reportedly drove into an ambush laid by the armed men, who abducted them.
The attack has sparked concern among residents, who described the Ogobia–Otukpo Road as increasingly unsafe due to repeated incidents involving suspected kidnappers.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, said he was heading to the scene to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Yes, I’m going to the scene now to ascertain what really happened,” Adole said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the abduction.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as telephone calls and a text message sent to her had not been responded to.
Security agencies are expected to provide further details as investigations continue, while residents have called for intensified security patrols along the route to curb the rising wave of violent attacks.