Families allege soldiers aided kidnap of passengers from Benue Links bus, demand government investigation
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“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.
“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” – father of kidnap victic
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Family members of some of the 13 Benue Links passengers abducted by terrorists at Eke, Okpokwu Council of Benue on June 21 have alleged that soldiers aided the kidnap and also accused the police of lying about their rescue.
The victims regained their freedom on June 28, a week after they were abducted, as confirmed by Council Chairman Adah Inalegwu and Benue Links Information Officer Ehi Johnson.
Family members said the passengers were freed after ransom was paid to the terrorists but that the police lied by claiming they were rescued during an operation.
A parent of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity in Makurdi, urged the government to investigate the soldiers and other security personnel posted to the Eke checkpoint at the time of the incident.
He said the investigation is necessary because of the “visible negligence” and “false claims” by the police after his family paid a ransom to secure the victims’ release.
His words: “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.
“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.”
A female victim who recounted her ordeal said the attack happened at exactly 6.33 pm after they approached the Eke checkpoint where uniformed security personnel were stationed.
She said gunshots rang out from both the rear and front of the vehicle, forcing it to stop.
Three armed men marched them from the highway into the bush where they walked nearly nine kilometres farther into the forest, according to her.
“We were hidden under rocks and frequently relocated each time they heard gunshots,” she narrated.
“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 disclosed that after ransom was delivered by a victim’s family, the kidnappers abandoned the passengers in the bush.
Stranded and exhausted, she said the victims wandered until they stumbled on a nearby house, whose resident alerted volunteer guards that came to evacuate them to Ugbokolo Police Station.
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