Kidnapped manfrom Benue killed while trying to escape captivity

A staff member of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Orseer Nyagu, was killed after being abducted on the Agagbe‑Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Family members and colleagues said Nyagu was taken together with two other individuals while traveling from Agagbe to Naka along that road.

According to sources, he lost his life while trying to escape from his captors.

Sources close to the family reported that the kidnappers contacted relatives about two days after the abduction and demanded a ransom of N15 million for the victims’ release.

The demanded amount was later negotiated down to N500,000.

Before the ransom could be paid, Nyagu allegedly attempted to flee from the kidnappers’ custody.

He was reportedly killed during that attempt.

The two other victims who remained with the abductors were later released and safely reunited with their families, according to community sources.

Residents, friends and colleagues described Nyagu as a promising young worker who had recently secured employment with SUBEB.

In an online tribute, Ukan Kurugh lamented the worsening insecurity affecting many communities in Benue State.

He noted that Nyagu was the son of his former primary‑school teacher and called for urgent action to address the rising cases of kidnapping and violence on rural roads.

The killing has again highlighted persistent insecurity in parts of Benue State, especially in rural areas where residents and commuters remain vulnerable to attacks and abductions.

At the time of filing this report, attempts to obtain a comment from the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful.