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Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the corpse of their late mother were reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were said to have been intercepted around rural communities along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road, between Omutele and Ankpechi villages in Oglewu District, where armed invaders reportedly attacked a few days earlier.
The siblings 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 abducted in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents who spoke with our correspondent by telephone said they heard gunshots between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., forcing them to flee to safety.
According to some witnesses, the family’s vehicle developed a mechanical fault during the journey, leaving the occupants stranded on the road until about 2:00 a.m.
They said the siblings encountered the armed men while attempting to resume their journey after the vehicle broke down.
The Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the incident to our correspondent by telephone, saying he was on his way to the scene to ascertain what had happened.
“Yes, I’m going to the scene now to ascertain what really happened,” Adole said.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message sent to her at the time of filing this report.
