Gunmen kidnap 5 in Benue, demand N5m ransom

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted no fewer than five people, including a woman during an attack on Ingle Otanufe community in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the victims were abducted on Wednesday, April 19, by the gunmen.

An indigene of Ingle and National President of the Edumoga Youth Association, Lucky Itodo, disclosed that three persons – John Matthew, Simon Okpe, and Michael Adah – were abducted from Otanufe, while a man and his wife, John Boniface and John Faith, were kidnapped from Efonugu.

Itodo added that the abductors later contacted Godwin Adah, whose brother, Michael Adah, was among those held captive by the gunmen.

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The kidnappers were said to have demanded N10 million for the victims.

“Yes, they initially demanded the payment of N10 million to set them free but the abductors later cut down the ransom to N5 million, which the families are still unable to pay,” he said.

Itoro added that the gunmen have since been threatening to kill the victims if the ransom is not paid on time.

The youth leader further called on the government at all levels, as well as privileged individuals, to come to the aid of the abducted persons.

He said the victims were peasant farmers going about their routine task of sourcing food for consumption.

The Star