Bandits Abduct Six in Benue, Demand ₦100 Million Ransom

On February 17, 2026, bandits struck again in Benue, abducting six individuals along the Makurdi-Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, specifically in Kula Village, which is a 20-minute drive from Makurdi, the state capital.

The victims, who chose to remain unnamed due to fear of further attacks, were reportedly traveling from Ilorin to Makurdi when they were kidnapped. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₦100 million for the release of the six individuals.

Victor Omnin, the chairman of Gwer West Local Government, confirmed the incident and stated that it took place along the Makurdi-Naka road. As of the report, the Ebonyi State Police Command, represented by Public Relations Officer DSP Udem Edet, had not yet received any information regarding the incident.