Protest erupts in Benue’s Owukpa community over abduction of traders

DDM News

A wave of unrest swept through Owukpa in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday as irate youths staged a protest against the abduction of several local traders.

According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the protest erupted after reports emerged that suspected armed men hijacked a Benue Links vehicle and kidnapped female passengers over the weekend.

The abduction reportedly took place along the Owukpa–Orokam road, a route often used by local traders and commuters in the region.

Eyewitness accounts confirmed that the incident occurred around 7:00 p.m. near the Eyiupi community, while the victims were returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa.

Sources said the attackers, believed to be armed herdsmen, laid an ambush on the road before forcibly taking away all the female passengers in the vehicle.

The victims, said to include both young girls and adult women, were overpowered and led into the surrounding bush by the armed men.

As of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had yet to contact the families of the victims or make any ransom demands.

The silence from the abductors has only deepened fears and heightened tensions across the Owukpa community and surrounding towns.

In response to the incident, local youths took to the streets in protest, blocking the busy Orokam-Owukpa-Okpoga road with sticks, burning tyres, and other barricades.

The protesting youths demanded immediate intervention from security agencies and the state government to rescue the kidnapped traders.

They insisted that no movement would be allowed into or out of Owukpa until the missing women were found and returned safely.

As a result of the blockade, many travelers from Enugu and nearby communities were stranded and forced to return or seek alternate routes.

The protesters accused government officials and security agencies of neglecting the region, which they claim has become increasingly vulnerable to violent attacks.

Many of the demonstrators held placards calling on the Benue State Governor and federal authorities to provide adequate security in Ogbadigbo LGA.

They also warned that further delays in the search and rescue operation could lead to a breakdown of order and a more widespread uprising.

Residents told DDM that the Owukpa-Orokam road has long been a flashpoint for ambushes and robberies, with little to no security presence in the area.

One community elder lamented that despite repeated warnings and previous attacks, authorities have failed to deploy sufficient patrol units to secure the area.

He described the current situation as “a ticking time bomb,” urging the government to act swiftly to prevent future tragedies.

The Benue State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, further fueling public frustration.

Local vigilante groups have reportedly launched a preliminary search effort in the surrounding forests, but their resources remain limited.

Some of the youth leaders who spoke during the protest said they are prepared to intensify the blockade and sustain it until the abducted women are rescued.

Others appealed to international human rights organizations and civil society groups to intervene and help bring global attention to their plight.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the broader security challenges plaguing rural communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a persistent problem in parts of Benue, especially in isolated areas like Owukpa where government presence is minimal.

The Owukpa protest underscores the growing desperation among residents who feel abandoned by the very institutions meant to protect them.

With tensions rising and no word yet from the abductors, the situation remains tense and volatile.

DDM will continue to monitor developments in Owukpa and provide updates as events unfold.

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