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‘They did nothing’ — Parents blame soldiers for Benue kidnap ordeal

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Parents of the 12 passengers abducted by gunmen in Eke, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, have called for an investigation into the role of security personnel stationed at a checkpoint near the scene of the incident.

The parents allege that soldiers and other security operatives posted at the Eke checkpoint were present when the abduction occurred but failed to act. They also accused the police of misleading the public by claiming that the victims were rescued during an operation, insisting instead that their release was secured after ransom payments.

Speaking anonymously to journalists in Makurdi, a parent of one of the victims urged the government to probe the security officers on duty at the time, citing what he described as “visible negligence” and “false claims.”

“My daughter said soldiers were right there when they were kidnapped but did nothing. They just watched as the kidnappers took them into the bush.
Later, when the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, went there to ask the soldiers for the direction the kidnappers went, they gave him the wrong one, sending police on a fruitless chase.
Let the government fish out those who were on duty that day,” he said.

He also criticised the police for what he called a premature announcement of a rescue.

“I was still in Ugbokolo, not even out of town after paying the ransom, and the police were already on air claiming they rescued them,” he added angrily.

One of the female victims also shared her traumatic experience, recalling that the incident occurred at exactly 6:33 pm shortly after their vehicle approached the Eke checkpoint, where uniformed security operatives were stationed.

According to her, gunshots rang out from both the front and rear, forcing the vehicle to stop. The three armed abductors then marched the passengers off the highway and deep into the forest, trekking nearly nine kilometres.

“We were hidden under rocks and frequently relocated each time they heard gunshots,” she said.
“They tied the men and macheted one of them and gave him a deep cut on the forehead.
The next day, when we began hearing motorcycles and voices, the abductors started demanding ransom and hid us under rocks.”

She said that after ransom was reportedly paid by one of the victim’s families, the kidnappers abandoned the passengers in the forest. Disoriented and weak, they eventually found a nearby house, where a resident contacted local vigilantes who escorted them to the Ugbokolo Police Station.

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