Tension In Benue As Gunmen Allegedly Kidnap 18 Mourners, Residents Protest

Residents of Tyomu community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State have protested the alleged abduction of 18 members of the community who were reportedly travelling to Kogi State for a burial ceremony.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the protesters blocked the Makurdi-Gboko Road on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, demanding urgent government intervention to secure the release of their relatives. Reports from the community said the victims, including several women, were abducted on Friday evening along the Adoka-Ankpa Road while travelling for the burial.

Community members reportedly said the abductors contacted relatives of some of the victims and demanded a ransom of ₦30 million. The residents were said to have mobilised among themselves and raised ₦3 million, which was reportedly paid, but the victims allegedly remained in captivity.

The development prompted members of the community to take to the highway in protest. The protesters reportedly carried palm fronds and chanted in their native language while demanding that security agencies intensify efforts to locate and rescue the abducted persons. The road blockade caused significant disruption to traffic, leaving motorists stranded for several hours.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, confirmed that authorities had received information about the incident. He said the Divisional Police Officer in Adoka and security personnel in surrounding areas were working to locate the victims.

Har explained that kidnapping cases could be difficult to track because the location from which abductors make ransom calls may differ from the place where victims are being held. He said security agencies were therefore approaching the operation cautiously while keeping affected families informed about developments.

He also advised residents to avoid travelling at night, particularly along the route connecting Benue and Kogi, citing security concerns in the area.

Meanwhile, Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, confirmed the incident and appealed to the community to remain calm. He said some women from Tyomu had hired a vehicle operated by Ejifa Travel Services to transport them to a burial ceremony in Kogi State when the vehicle was reportedly attacked around the Ankpa axis.

Iorpev said the Commissioner of Police had been informed following the protest and was engaging the transport company and families of the affected persons as part of efforts to trace the victims.

He also urged transport companies to promptly report attacks or other security incidents involving their passengers to the appropriate authorities, stressing that early notification would enable security agencies to respond more quickly.

However, the Benue State Police Command said it had not received a formal report confirming the abduction and that the exact number of victims had yet to be established. Police spokesperson Peter Aondongu said officers on patrol along the route had found an abandoned vehicle over the weekend and suspected that its occupants might have been abducted. He appealed for patience as security operatives continued efforts to establish the facts and locate those involved.

The protest was later brought under control, with security personnel clearing the highway and restoring movement, according to the police. Efforts to locate the reported victims and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident were ongoing.