Women from the Tyomu community in Benue State took to the Makurdi/Gboko highway on Tuesday to protest the abduction of 18 residents, including eight women. The victims were kidnapped on Friday while traveling to Kogi State for a burial ceremony along the Adoka-Ankpa road.

The protesters blocked the highway, demanding immediate action from the state government to secure the release of their loved ones. Doshima, one of the protesters, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that a group of residents had hired a vehicle for the journey when they were ambushed by armed men. "Last Friday, some residents of this community hired a vehicle to attend a burial ceremony in Kogi State, but the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked, and all 18 passengers, including eight women, were abducted," she said.

Reports indicate that the abductors have contacted the families of the victims, demanding a ransom of N30 million. The community has managed to raise N3 million, but the hostages have yet to be released.

Joseph Har, the security adviser to the governor on Internal Affairs, confirmed the incident but noted that the actual number of kidnapped individuals remains uncertain. He emphasized the dangers associated with traveling to Kogi State at night, especially given the known risks along that route. Har stated, "First of all, travelling to Kogi State at night is a concern. People would be travelling to Kogi State at night, especially when everybody is aware of how dangerous the situation along that route is."

The security adviser assured that the relevant security agencies have been alerted and are actively working to resolve the situation. He highlighted the complexities involved in kidnapping cases, noting that the location from which the kidnappers communicate often differs from where the victims are held, complicating rescue efforts.

In response to the protest, Solomon Iorpev, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, criticized the transport company for failing to report the incident to security agencies promptly. He stated that the police only became aware of the kidnapping through the protest, which he deemed unfortunate. Iorpev urged transport companies to notify security agencies immediately in such situations to facilitate a swift response.

The police spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, confirmed that the command had not received any formal report regarding the kidnapping. However, police operatives on patrol had noticed an abandoned vehicle along the route, raising suspicions about the possible abduction of its occupants. He assured that the police are working to calm the situation in Tyomu and have cleared the road to allow for the resumption of normal activities.

As the community continues to call for government intervention, officials have appealed for patience as security forces work diligently to locate and rescue the kidnapped individuals.