"Soldiers Aided Kidnappers": Parents of Abducted Benue Passengers Allege Security Complicity, Ransom Payments

 

Tension is rising across Benue State as families of the twelve abducted passengers of Benue Links Transport Company intensify calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the disturbing incident at Eke, Okpokwu Local Government Area. What began as a harrowing case of kidnapping has now turned into a more complicated and controversial matter, with victims' families accusing some security personnel of negligence, or worse, possible complicity.

The abduction, which occurred shortly after 6:30 pm near the Eke checkpoint, has left a trail of confusion, pain and unanswered questions. Victims and their families now challenge the official version presented by the police, claiming that the rescue narrative peddled by security operatives was nothing more than a lie designed to save face.

One of the distraught parents, who chose to remain anonymous for safety reasons, spoke with journalists in Makurdi. He revealed that not only was a ransom paid for the release of the passengers, but soldiers stationed at the checkpoint during the incident allegedly failed to intervene as the crime unfolded before them.

"My daughter saw the soldiers clearly," he said. "She told us that they just stood there watching while the kidnappers took them into the bush. When the police came later and asked the soldiers which direction the kidnappers went, they deliberately misled them. This isn’t just negligence; it’s suspicious. We want the government to look into who was on duty that day."

According to him, his family had barely completed the ransom payment and was still in the town of Ugbokolo when the police released a statement claiming the passengers had been rescued during an operation.

“I was shocked and angry,” he continued. “Nobody came to their rescue. It was the kidnappers who released them after collecting the ransom. The police just wanted to take credit for something they had no hand in.”

The inconsistencies in the account shared by law enforcement and the testimonies of the victims paint a troubling picture. One of the released victims, a woman, recounted the terrifying moments that led to their abduction.

She recalled how the vehicle came to a halt following sudden gunfire at the checkpoint. The shots rang out from both ahead and behind, leaving the driver with no choice but to stop. Within moments, three armed men stormed the bus and forcefully led the passengers into the dense forest.

“They made us walk deep into the forest, almost nine kilometres, sometimes through thorns and rocks,” she said. “We were hidden under large rocks, and they kept moving us around whenever they suspected someone nearby. It was brutal and terrifying.”

The ordeal only worsened as night fell. Male passengers were tied up, and one of them suffered a deep machete wound to the forehead. The next morning, the kidnappers began making ransom demands, using threats and intimidation to pressure families into quick payment.

When the ransom was eventually paid by one of the victim’s families, the captives were abandoned in the forest without any guidance or protection.

“We were left on our own,” the victim explained. “We didn’t know where to go, so we just walked. Eventually, we found a house and the people there helped us. They called some volunteer guards, and those guards took us to the police station in Ugbokolo.”

These revelations have stirred public outrage across Benue and beyond. Many are now questioning the reliability of official security reports and the actual role security forces play in ensuring citizens’ safety in high-risk areas.

The Eke checkpoint, once considered a symbol of law enforcement presence, has now become the focal point of suspicion. Parents and community members are demanding full disclosure of who manned the checkpoint at the time of the incident and what protocols were followed when the abduction took place.

Civil society groups and local human rights advocates are also joining the call, urging both the Benue State Government and federal security agencies to open a formal inquiry into the case. They argue that failing to investigate these allegations could embolden criminal elements and erode public trust in the institutions meant to protect them.

The situation has left deep scars not only on the victims but also on their families, who are now coping with both trauma and betrayal. For many, the haunting part is not just the act of kidnapping itself but the eerie silence and inaction of those who should have prevented it.

As calls for justice grow louder, the affected families remain resolute in their quest for accountability. They are urging authorities to not only identify and prosecute the kidnappers, but also investigate and hold responsible any security personnel who may have played a role, whether through action or omission.

This incident has now become a test case for the Nigerian security system’s credibility, and whether justice can truly be served in a country where the line between protectors and perpetrators appears alarmingly blurred.