Breaking News
Abduction of 14 Passengers in Benue State, Police Confirms
Benue State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of 14 travellers who were en route from communities in the Igede axis of Oju and Obi Local Government Areas.
According to the police, the incident took place on Monday evening along the Okpokwu corridor of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the development and said security agencies had commenced investigations.
“Concerning the abduction of passengers on the Okpokwu road, it is true that it happened. Investigation into the incident is ongoing, and we are on top of the situation,” Edet said.
The victims were said to be heading towards the South-West when their vehicle was attacked at about 7 p.m. along the Okpokwu axis.
The attack occurred barely two days after armed men abducted nine worshippers during a night vigil at St John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon, within Ado Local Government Area.
DAILY POST gathered that the assailants shot two of the passengers during the operation, killing them on the spot.
A resident who spoke with our correspondent by phone from Makurdi said the travellers had set out from Iheijwo Market in Oju Local Government Area around 7 p.m. on Monday.
“They passed through the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga road in Benue State when the kidnappers stopped them and took 15 passengers into the bush. One person was shot dead when the driver initially refused to stop,” the source said.
Also confirming the incident, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Mr Jackson Ominyi, told our correspondent on Tuesday that he was briefed about the killing of two victims during the attack.
Ominyi further disclosed that intervention by the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area had resulted in the rescue of two of the abducted passengers.
“My security officer called me a few hours ago to inform me that some of our people were abducted around the Okpokwu axis.
“I commend the Chairman of Okpokwu LGA for ensuring the rescue of two persons so far and for his assurance that all the remaining 12 abductees will be rescued,” Ominyi said.
DAILY POST reports that the spate of recent attacks has intensified fear among residents and travellers in parts of the state.
President Bola Tinubu has nominated Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON.
This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanugu, on Wednesday.
The statement said the appointment is subject to the Senate’s approval in accordance with the provisions of section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act, 2026.
President Tinubu sent a letter today to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, requesting the expeditious confirmation of Ambassador Yusuf to replace Professor Abdullahi Usman, who resigned this week, after about 14 months in the post.
Yusuf is a seasoned Nigerian career diplomat who served as the Nigerian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye from 2021 to 2024.
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested two brothers, Lucky and Uzoma Amadi, for allegedly killing their elder brother, Orindu, and burying his body in a shallow grave in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were said to have concealed the alleged crime by repeatedly telling community members that their elder brother had travelled.
Suspicion, however, grew in the community after the brothers reportedly gave conflicting accounts of Orindu’s whereabouts, while all attempts to reach him on the phone failed. This prompted youths of the area to storm the Amadi family compound on Tuesday morning, demanding an explanation from the duo.
An eyewitness, Chidiebube Okeoma who spoke to journalists said the brothers allegedly confessed to the killing in a bid to avoid being lynched by angry youths. According to him, the suspects claimed that Orindu was responsible for the death of their father about 10 years ago under what they described as questionable circumstances.
Following the confession, the suspects reportedly led the youths to a shallow grave within their compound, where Orindu’s remains were exhumed. Okeoma said the situation quickly degenerated, with the youths threatening to carry out jungle justice on the brothers.
“It took the timely intervention of policemen from the Mbieri Police Division to save them,” Okeoma said, adding that a private citizen had alerted the police to the unfolding crisis.
The suspects have since been taken into police custody, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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