After almost a week in captivity at the hands of suspected armed Fulani herdsmen, a middle-aged man from Benue, Prince Matthew Chile, has been freed. The incident occurred when Prince Chile, a resident of Sengev in Gwer-West LGA, was abducted while traveling with three others along the Makurdi-Naka road around 6 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Fortunately, the other three individuals were also released.
The news of his release was shared by a birthday mate of Prince Chile, who is from the same area in Gwer-West LGA. The individual, Hon Victor Torsar Ormin, who ran for the House of Representatives seat in the 2019 general elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, expressed his joy at Chile’s safe return on Sunday, May 5, 2024, which also happened to be Chile’s birthday.
“A great birthday gift indeed, Prince Matthew Chile. Your safe return on our special day adds to the joy of our celebrations. Welcome back, buddy!” Victor posted on his Facebook wall at 8 pm.
It is still unclear whether a ransom was paid for their release. Initially, the abductors had demanded N100 million, which was later reduced to N50 million.
The area along the Makurdi-Naka road has witnessed increased insecurity, with frequent attacks, killings, and abductions attributed to suspected Fulani herdsmen since 2023. Commercial vehicles, particularly those belonging to Benue Links, have been targeted. Not only residents of Benue but also individuals from other regions have been victims of these incidents, with some losing their lives.
The Riverine communities in Gwer-West LGA have become focal points for these criminal activities, serving as bases for attacks on neighboring areas like Gwer-East, Apa, Agatu, and parts of Makurdi. The inhabitants in these communities have faced displacement, and the attackers have established a strong presence in the areas.