How N350 Million Ransom Threw Benue Into Shock: Families Cry Out as Benue Links Passengers Remain in Captivity

... Terror in Transit: Victims' Families Accuse Government of Silence as Kidnappers Reject Ransom Part Payment

A fresh wave of terror has gripped Benue State as kidnappers of passengers aboard a Benue Links commercial bus have demanded a staggering 350 million ransom for the release of their victims, throwing the affected families into panic and uncertainty.

The Benue Links incident occurred on July 22, when heavily armed men believed to be bandits ambushed the state-owned transport vehicle in the Okpokwu Local Government Area, forcefully whisking the passengers into the bush at gunpoint.

A family member of one of the Benue Links kidnapped victims, Terna Agbecha, confirmed that his cousin, Hembadoon Akume, is among those still being held hostage. Agbecha revealed that the abductors have already reached out and made their demands clear.

"They called and asked for 350 million. Our elder sister managed to raise and pay 500,000, but they refused to release her, he said in a trembling voice, further deepening concerns over the heartlessness of the criminals.

The families, devastated and growing increasingly desperate, are now making public appeals to the Benue State Government and Nigerian security agencies to take immediate action. They fear the worst may happen if government silence and sluggishness continue.

Many have expressed outrage over the fact that this attack happened in broad daylight, targeting Benue Links a government-owned transport service, thereby questioning the level of security across the state.

As anxiety deepens, the Federal and State Governments have remained mum, while the victims' families continue to raise money in bits, hoping to save their loved ones before it's too late.

This latest attack adds to the rising wave of abductions in Benue and across the country, renewing calls for a total overhaul of Nigeria's security architecture and urgent measures to end the reign of terror on the highways.