Gunmen were reported to have abducted three siblings who were conveying the corpse of their mother for burial in Benue State.

According to natives, the abduction was said to have taken place around 4am on Saturday while the siblings were on their way to Iklenyi community in neighbouring Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.

The gunmen were reported to have abducted the siblings between Omutele and Ankpechi along the Ogobia-Otukpo road in Oglewu District of Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

A native of Omutele community, who identified himself as Elijah and spoke to newsmen by telephone on Saturday, said residents of the community heard sporadic gunshots between 3 and 4am on Saturday.

According to Elijah, “We heard sporadic gunshots between 3 and 4am today (Saturday) and we thought it was the Fulani herdsmen that were attacking our community.

“But when day broke, we learnt that gunmen kidnapped some people who were escorting the corpse of their mother from Abuja to Iklenyi community in neighbouring Okpokwu Local Government Area.”

Earlier, there was a trending video on social media alleging that three siblings, who were conveying the remains of their mother, who died in Abuja, to Iklenyi community in Okpokwu LGA for burial, ran into kidnappers and were abducted.

The trending video alleged that the vehicle in which the siblings were travelling developed a mechanical fault, which made them stranded on the road until the early hours of Saturday.

When contacted, the Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the abduction but said he was yet to get details of the incident.

Adole said, “Yes, I am going to the scene of the incident now to ascertain what really happened.”

Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, when contacted, said she had yet to get the report and promised to call back once she got details from the Divisional Police Officer of Ohimini LGA.

But as of the time of filing this report, Edet had yet to get back to our correspondent.

It will be recalled that gunmen ambushed a convoy conveying the remains of a late FRSC Deputy Corps Commander, Augustine Ikwue, along the Ochadamu–Ejule road in Kogi State, penultimate Thursday.

The mourners were accompanying the corpse to his hometown near Otukpo LGA in Benue State when gunmen abducted them and briefly seized the corpse, which was later abandoned and recovered for burial. (Nigerian Tribune)