Residents of the Tyomu community in Makurdi Local Government Area, Benue State, blocked the Makurdi-Gboko Road on Saturday to protest the abduction of 18 mourners traveling to Kogi State for a burial ceremony.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on the evening of Friday, September 25, along the Makurdi-Naka-Adoka-Ankpa Road, shortly after passing through Adoka. The mass abduction has sparked widespread outrage, with community members demanding urgent government intervention to secure the safe return of their relatives.
According to sources close to the victims’ families, the kidnappers established contact and initially demanded a ₦30 million ransom. Although the families reportedly gathered and paid ₦3 million, the abductors allegedly refused to release the captives.
The subsequent protest gridlocked the highway, leaving motorists stranded for hours. Demonstrators, some carrying fresh palm fronds, called on state authorities and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
Joseph Har, the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, confirmed the incident but noted that the exact number of victims has yet to be verified.
“The matter has been reported to security agencies,” Har stated, adding that the Divisional Police Officer in Adoka and local security operatives are currently coordinating search and rescue operations. The state government has appealed for calm as investigations continue.
