*Says 18 Others, 2 Drivers Safe And Sound
*Kidnappers Demands Undisclosed Amount As Ransom
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Benue State Government (BNSG) has confirmed the kidnap of 10 passengers from two Benue Links buses near Okenne, Kogi state who were abducted while on their way to Lagos on Sunday.
Government however said that the two drivers and 18 other passengers that were part of those that were kidnapped were safe and sound and have reached their destination, Lagos.
It could be recalled that some suspected kidnappers who had abducted the passengers have also made contact with family members of the abductees, demanding for an undisclosed amount of money as ransom.
Confirming the incident, Barrister Omale Omale, State Commissioner for Power, Energy and Transport said the state government has reached out to the Benue State Police Command to liase with its counterpart in Kogi state, a move that would lead to the safe return of the victims.
The Commissioner said, “We confirmed that two of our Benue Links buses with passengers were intercepted just before Okene in Kogi state, on their way to Lagos on Sunday, 10th September, 2023.
“Incidentally, as we speak now, no life has been lost and with the help of the vigilante and the police we were able to secure the two buses, two drivers and 18 passengers.
“On Monday, 11th September, 2023, the police certified that the people were psychologically fit to travel and released them with the drivers to proceed to Lagos and we can confirm that they have arrived safely in Lagos.
“However, 10 of the passengers are still in the kidnappers den. The kidnappers took four of them from one of the buses and another six from the other bus.
“The Acting General Manager (GM) of Benue Links gave us the report and government is on top of the situation.”
On efforts that would lead to the release of the victims, the Commissioner said, “We have reached out to the Police Command here (in Benue) to liaise with the Kogi state command to intensify security concerns to ensure the release.
“The kidnappers have made contact with the families of the victims and are making demands for ransom, but at least we have the assurance that the victims will be recovered from the kidnappers’ den and reunited with their family members, unhurt.”
While assuring prospective passengers of their safety, Omale said, “We are giving our customers the assurance of the best of protection of security as they travel with Benue Links, but the security challenge is endemic, it cuts across the nation.
“However, the state government is guaranteeing that we will liaise with other states, where we are en route to destination for the protection of our passengers; their welfare, their security is our concern and that we are committed”, he stated.
It was learnt that the incident occured between 2:00pm and 3:00pm on Sunday.
Our efforts to get the spokesman of the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police, SP William Ayah were not successful. He did not pick calls, neither did he respond to text messages sent to him.
