BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap three siblings, seize dead body along Ogobia–Otukpo road

Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the corpse of their late mother have reportedly been kidnapped by suspected armed men along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road.

IDOMA VOICE gathered that the incident, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, was disclosed by citizen journalist Meddy Olotu in a video message shared on social media.

According to Olotu, the siblings were 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 ran into the kidnappers.

He explained that the family had embarked on the journey at night despite their vehicle developing a fault, leaving them stranded on the road until about 2:00 a.m.

“They left Abuja with the corpse of their mother for burial in Iklenyi, but even by 2:00 a.m., they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. Despite that, they continued the journey,” Olotu said.

He said that somewhere between Ogobia and Otukpo, suspected kidnappers intercepted the vehicle and abducted the three siblings along with the corpse of their late mother.

Describing the incident as heartbreaking, Olotu urged Nigerians to avoid unnecessary night travel, warning that insecurity on the nation’s highways has worsened.

“If you’re using Nigerian roads at this time, please be very careful. Even travelling during the day is no longer safe, let alone at night. If your journey is not absolutely necessary, stay where you are,” he cautioned.

The citizen journalist also lamented what he described as the growing brutality of criminal gangs, saying it was disturbing that kidnappers could allegedly abduct mourners transporting the remains of a deceased relative.

“It is sad that these criminals no longer have sympathy or conscience. Imagine kidnapping people conveying the corpse of their mother and even taking away the body,” he said.