3-6-2025
Victims of a recent kidnap in Benue State have alleged that soldiers on guard near the crime scene watched as the gunmen took them into the forest.
The 12 passengers who were traveling in a Benue Links bus were ambushed at Eke, in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State, on June 22, and all regained their freedom on June 29, 2025. The police claim that the victims were rescued, but families of victims insisted they paid the ransom demand by the kidnappers.
One of the parents who spoke to journalists in Makurdi called on the government to investigate a possible collaboration between security agents and the hoodlums who committed the crime.
“My daughter said soldiers were right there when they were kidnapped but did nothing. They just watched as the kidnappers took them into the forest,” the parent said.
“Later, when the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, went there to ask the soldiers for the direction the kidnappers went, they gave him the wrong information, sending the police on a fruitless chase.
“Let the government fish out those who were on duty that day.”
He also criticised the police for announcing that they had rescued the victims when, according to him, no such operation was carried out.
“I was still in Ugbokolo, not even out of town after paying the ransom, and the police were already on air claiming they rescued them,” add the parent.
A female victim of the kidnap said the incident occurred at about 6:33pm after they approached the Eke checkpoint where uniformed security personnel were stationed.
She said gunshots rang out from both rear and front, forcing the vehicle to stop.
According to the victim, the abductors, three in number, marched them from the highway into the bush where they trekked nearly nine kilometres farther in the forest.
“We were hidden under rocks and frequently relocated each time they heard gunshots.
“They tied the men and macheted one of them and gave him a deep cut on the forehead.
“The next day, when we began hearing motorcycles and voices, the abductors started demanding ransom and hid us under rocks,” she said.
She said after ransom was reportedly delivered by a victim’s family, the kidnappers abandoned the passengers in the forest and they wandered about
until they came to a settlement and a resident alerted volunteer guards t
who later evacuated them to the Ugbokolo Police Station.
Benue Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Udeme Edet, said one suspect has been arrested and efforts are being made to identify and arrest the others.