Kidnappers free widow’s husband, five mourners in Benue

Kidnappers have released the husband of a deceased woman and five other mourners who were abducted while conveying her body for burial in Benue State, following the payment of a N2.5m ransom.

PUNCH Metro had earlier reported that the six persons were abducted along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped at about 8pm on Friday while conveying the woman’s corpse to Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area for burial.

The woman had died in Kano, and her husband, alongside five other mourners, was taking her body home when their vehicle was intercepted by the kidnappers along the notorious 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.

However, a source told our correspondent that the victims were released in the early hours of Wednesday after N2.5m was paid.

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“The six kidnap victims were released in the early hours of today after the family paid N2.5m,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Otukpo 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 Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, DSP 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,” the police spokesman said.

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