Benue: Arrested men in Okpokwu were travellers, not kidnappers – MACBAN 

Benue State Leader Claims Arrested Individuals Were Innocent Travelers

The Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Muhammad, has asserted that four men arrested last week in Okpokwu Local Government Area were innocent travelers, not kidnappers.

In a statement issued on Tuesday from Makurdi, Muhammad stated the men, all Fulani, were en route from Benue State to Onitsha to visit family when they came under attack. This assertion follows reports that local youths had disrupted a kidnapping attempt in the area last Wednesday, rescuing five individuals who allegedly had been held by suspected abductors.

Authorities later confirmed that three suspects were apprehended and turned over to the police, while another individual reportedly escaped. Adah Inalegwu, Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, confirmed the events, stating that the suspected kidnappers abandoned their captives after being pursued by local vigilantes.

Inalegwu noted that while three individuals were detained the following day, security agencies had not verified any connection to the alleged kidnapping. “They are strangers in the community. It has not yet been confirmed if they were kidnappers, but they have been handed over to the police,” he stated.

Muhammad vehemently denied that the arrested individuals were involved in any criminal activities, emphasizing that they were simply traveling to visit relatives. He reported that one of the men had managed to escape, while the other three had suffered severe beatings during the incident. Tragically, he noted that one of them later succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while the remaining two are currently receiving medical treatment.

The MACBAN chairman urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, apprehend those responsible for the attack, and ensure justice is served. Additionally, he dismissed allegations that the men were engaged in criminal acts, arguing that they were targeted solely due to their identity as Fulani travelers passing through the area.

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