Twenty kidnapped victims from Tyomu community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State have regained their freedom after their abductors reportedly received N8 million in ransom and food items worth more than N500,000.
The victims, including women, were released on Thursday night in a forest along the Otukpo-Ogbadibo road, near the border with Kogi State, after spending several days in captivity. Simon Igidi, whose wife was among those abducted, told journalists in Makurdi that the victims arrived in the state capital around midnight and were taken to hospitals for medical attention.
He said an elderly woman was released on the same Friday the group was abducted and returned to her home in Tyomu on Monday evening. According to Igidi, the remaining 19 victims were freed after the ransom was paid and the food items were supplied to the abductors.
The released victims comprised eight women from Tyomu, three people from Vandeikya and nine others from the Wurukum area of Makurdi. The development comes amid continued concerns over kidnapping and insecurity affecting communities in parts of Benue State.
Donations Made to Support Victims
Meanwhile, PureBioTech Nigeria Limited has donated N1 million towards the rehabilitation of the released victims. The donation was presented to community representatives by Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed at the company’s premises on Thursday.
Mohammed said the gesture formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and reflected its concern for the humanitarian needs of its host community.
The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, also reportedly visited Tyomu and donated N1.5 million to support the victims and their families. The assistance is expected to help the affected families address immediate medical and other needs following the victims’ release.
However, the Benue State Police Command said it had not received an official report on the incident.
