Herdsmen seize mourning siblings, mother’s corpse in Benue

Three siblings en route to Benue State with the body of their deceased mother have allegedly been abducted by suspected armed herdsmen. The incident reportedly took place early Saturday morning along the Ogobia-Otukpo Road in the Ohimini Local Government Area.

The victims were traveling from Abuja to their hometown in Iklenyi, Okpokwu Local Government Area, for the burial. According to a source familiar with the situation, the family's vehicle experienced a mechanical fault, delaying their journey into the early hours of the morning. Despite the breakdown, they were determined to transport their mother's remains home for burial.

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It is painful that a family already grieving the loss of their mother has been subjected to this ordeal. They kidnapped not only the children but also took the corpse of a dead woman. We appeal to the security agencies to act swiftly and ensure their safe rescue.

The source indicated that the siblings maintained contact with relatives until they reached a stretch of road between the Omutele and Ankpechi communities. It was there that they were allegedly ambushed by armed individuals. The abductors not only took the three siblings but also seized the corpse of their mother, carrying both into the bush.

The chairman of the Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Adole, confirmed receiving reports of the abduction and stated he was heading to the affected community to gather firsthand information. Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The incident has been described as heartbreaking, with appeals made to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.

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I have been informed about the incident and I am heading to the area to ascertain exactly what happened.