Gunmen have abducted six mourners travelling from Kano State to Okpoga in Benue State for a burial, abandoning the deceased woman’s body along the road and demanding a ₦15 million ransom.

The incident occurred at about 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30, along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The victims comprised the woman’s husband and five other mourners accompanying him. They were reportedly intercepted while travelling to Okpoga, headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area, where the deceased was to be buried.

According to reports, the attackers took the six occupants of the vehicle into the bush but left the woman’s corpse behind.

The body was reportedly discovered by personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday and taken to a police station in Adoka before being deposited in a morgue.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the abduction, describing the incident as traumatic.

Ogiri, who said the vehicle’s driver was his friend, confirmed that the kidnappers were demanding ₦15 million for the victims’ release.

He said security agencies, alongside local vigilantes and youths, were making efforts to secure their freedom.

The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, also confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on Friday and that security operatives were working to rescue the victims.

The abduction has renewed concerns over insecurity along the Otukpo-Adoka axis, where several kidnapping incidents have been reported.

On October 16, gunmen reportedly abducted Catholic priest Reverend Father John Otache and seven other people along the Ugbokolo-Ajegbe-Awume Road in Ohimini Local Government Area.

In August, 14 passengers travelling to Abuja were also reportedly kidnapped along the Otukpo-Adoka Road.

The police said efforts were ongoing to rescue the six abducted mourners.