Kidnappers have released the husband of a deceased woman and five other mourners abducted while conveying her corpse for burial in Benue State, following the payment of a N2.5m ransom.
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The six victims were reportedly abducted at about 8pm on Friday along Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area while travelling to Okpoga, in Okpokwu Local Government Area, for the woman’s burial.
The woman had reportedly died in Kano, and her husband, alongside five other mourners, was transporting her body to her hometown when their vehicle was intercepted by the kidnappers.
The assailants reportedly abandoned the woman’s corpse on the highway and demanded a N15m ransom for the release of the six abductees.
However, a source disclosed that the victims regained their freedom in the early hours of Wednesday after the family paid N2.5m.
“The six kidnap victims were released in the early hours of today after the family paid N2.5m,” the source said.
Confirming their release, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were freed between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Ogiri, however, declined to comment on whether a ransom was paid.
He said, “It’s true that the victims were released between Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he was yet to receive an official report confirming their release.
“I’m yet to get the report of the release of the kidnap victims,” the police spokesman said.