THREE siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the corpse of their late mother have reportedly been abducted by suspected gunmen in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.
News Point Nigeria gathered that the victims were intercepted along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road, between Omutele and Ankpechi villages in Oglewu District, an area that had reportedly come under attack by armed invaders only a few days earlier.
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The siblings were said to be conveying the remains of their mother, who died in Abuja, to Iklenyi community in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State for burial when they were abducted in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents who spoke with our correspondent by telephone disclosed that they heard gunshots between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., forcing many people in the area to flee to safety.
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According to eyewitnesses, the family’s vehicle had developed a mechanical fault during the journey, leaving the occupants stranded on the road until about 2:00 a.m.
The witnesses explained that the siblings encountered the armed men while attempting to continue their journey after the vehicle broke down.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, told our correspondent by telephone that he was on his way to the scene to ascertain what had happened.
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“Yes, I’m going to the scene now to ascertain what really happened,” Adole said.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, neither responded to telephone calls nor replied to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.
