The Chairman of MACBAN in Benue State, Ardo Muhammad, has claimed that the four Fulani men arrested over a kidnapping case in Okpokwu LGA were innocent travellers going from Benue to Onitsha to visit relatives, adding that one of them escaped during the arrest incident.
This was contained in a report published by NIGERIAN TRIBUNE on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
He made the statement after reports that youths in the area foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued five victims in Okpokwu LGA.
According to earlier reports, vigilante youths chased the suspected kidnappers, forcing them to abandon their victims. Three suspects were arrested and handed over to the police, while one escaped.
The Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, Adah Inalegwu, confirmed the incident but said it had not yet been verified whether the arrested suspects were involved in the kidnapping. He added that they had been handed over to security operatives for investigation.
However, MACBAN maintained that the arrested men were innocent travellers passing through the state on their way to Onitsha.
The MACBAN chairman said,
“The four Fulani men arrested were travellers going from Benue State to Onitsha to visit their relatives, one of them managed to escape.”
