Six mourners kidnapped while conveying deceased woman's body in Benue released

Six mourners, including the husband of a deceased woman who was conveying her corpse for burial in Benue State, have been released by kidnappers following the payment of a N2.5m ransom.

The victims were reportedly abducted at about 8 pm on Friday to Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area.

The husband of the deceased and five other mourners were conveying her remains for burial when their vehicle was seized by kidnappers along the Adoka Road.

The woman’s corpse was reportedly abandoned on the highway while the kidnappers demanded a N15m ransom for the release of the six abductees.

Sources said the victims were released in the early hours of Wednesday after N2.5m was paid.

The source told DAILY POST on Wednesday, “The six kidnap victims were released in the early hours of today after the family paid N2.5m.”

The Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the release of the victims but declined to comment on the ransom payment.

He said, “It’s true that the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday.”

The Spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, Peter Aondongu, said he was yet to receive a report confirming their release.

“I’m yet to get the report of the release of the kidnap victims.”