Residents of Tyomu blocked the Gboko–Makurdi highway after armed Fulani ethnic militia abducted 18 mourners traveling to a burial in Kogi State.
By Ekani Olikita
MAKURDI, Nigeria — Residents of the predominantly Christian Tyomu community in Nigeria’s central Benue State on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, blocked the Gboko-Makurdi Federal highway, protesting the abduction of 18 Christian mourners.
The victims, comprising 10 men and eight women, were reportedly kidnapped on Friday, September 25, at Awowo junction along the Adoka-Ankpa Road near Awowo Junction in Kogi State while traveling to Ankpa County in neighboring Kogi State.
Community members said the victims were traveling in an 18-seater bus when about 20 heavily armed Islamic Fulani Ethnic Militia (IFEM) intercepted the vehicle and took the passengers into a nearby forest.
The abduction triggered anger in Tyomu, where the victims reportedly reside. Relatives and community members blocked the highway for several hours, causing significant traffic disruption and leaving motorists stranded.
Some protesters carried fresh palm fronds and demanded immediate government intervention to secure the victims’ release.
“We have waited for the government since Friday to rescue our people from the kidnappers’ den, but to no avail. This is why we are here,” said Abigail Terlumun”
“We shall reconvene for another protest if they are not released by the weekend,” Abigail Terlumun, whose sister, Elizabeth Terlumun, was among those reportedly abducted, told TruthNigeria
Community Says ₦30 Million Ransom Demanded
Relatives of the victims speaking to a TruthNigeria correspondent said the abductors contacted some families on Saturday and demanded ₦30 million (about $20,000) for their release.
Terhile Tyomu, brother of victim Veronica Tyomu, said “the mourners left Tyomu at about 6:30 p.m. Friday to attend a burial in Ankpa, Kogi State but were intercepted around 10:15 p.m. by about 20 armed fulani militia and taken into the forest”,
“None of them has been released because we cannot meet the enormous ransom demanded by the kidnappers,” Terhile told TruthNigeria
Isaac Terna, whose brother Stephen Terna was among the victims, said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦30 million but rejected ₦3 million raised and paid by the community.
“After receiving the money, they still called and told us that the money was too small. This is what angered us and compelled us to embark on Tuesday’s protest,” Isaac told TruthNigeria.
Local Vigilante: Armed Fulani Kidnappers Operating From Forest
John Attah, a local vigilante commander and a resident of Awowo, said residents heard sporadic gunfire at about 10:15 p.m. Friday.
“We heard sporadic gunshots about three miles from our location. Before we could arrive at the scene, the kidnappers had disappeared into the forest. We only met the abandoned 18-seater bus,” Attah told TruthNigeria.
He alleged that armed Fulani kidnappers have camps in the surrounding forest and said residents had previously appealed for military support to conduct operations in the area.
Protesters alleged that the attackers were Fulani ethnic militia because they reportedly heard them speaking Fulfulde while demanding the ransom.
Government, Police Confirm Abduction
Joseph Har, Special Adviser to Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, confirmed that a kidnapping incident occurred but said authorities had not independently established the exact number of victims.
He said the Divisional Police Officer in Adoka and security personnel in surrounding areas were working to locate the abducted persons.
Benue Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondongu also confirmed the incident and said security operations were underway.
“Yes, there was an abduction of 18 mourners in the late hours of Friday along Adoka-Ankpa road and action has been taken to free the victims”, Peter told TruthNigeria
Security Analyst: Forest Corridors Need Sustained Operations
Pablo Agada Williams, Benue South Zonal Commander of Civil Protection Guards and Anti-Kidnapping Expert, has emphasized the need for sustained security pressure against armed groups operating from forest enclaves. In a recent report on a Benue operation, Pablo said troops were conducting offensive operations to disrupt armed Fulani Militia and strengthen security in vulnerable Christian communities.
The latest abduction illustrates the broader security challenge along remote road corridors linking communities in Benue and Kogi, where forests can provide concealment for armed groups and complicate rescue operations.
The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) documented more than 55,000 killings and 21,000 abductions across Nigeria during a four-year data period, while noting the involvement of Fulani ethnic militias in deadly violence across the Middle Belt.
Why It Matters to Washington
The abduction is relevant to Washington because Kogi is among the Nigerian states the U.S. State Department currently lists under its “Do Not Travel” designation because of terrorism, crime and kidnapping risks. The U.S. maintains an overall Level 3 advisory for Nigeria.
For U.S. policymakers, the incident also highlights the intersection of kidnapping-for-ransom, Ethno-religious violence, weak security coverage along rural transport corridors and the vulnerability of civilians traveling between states.
At the same time, U.S. government reporting has cautioned that violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt can involve overlapping factors—including religion, ethnicity, land and resource competition and criminality—making it important to distinguish verified evidence about perpetrators and motives from allegations by victims or local communities.
Ekani Olikita is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
