Anxiety has gripped residents of the Jenta Adamu community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State following the abduction of three young men by suspected kidnappers along a highway in Kogi State.
The victims, identified as Kweti Jonathan Menje, Habila Sunday, and Samuel, were reportedly kidnapped while returning to Plateau State after a business trip to Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
The incident has sparked concern among family members, friends, and community leaders, who are now appealing to government authorities and security agencies to take urgent action to secure the safe release of the abducted youths.
Details of the abduction were contained in a statement issued by the Jenta Adamu Central Youth Council and made available to journalists on Tuesday. According to the council, the three young men were travelling in a commercial vehicle when armed men intercepted the vehicle in Kogi State and forcefully whisked them away to an unknown destination.
The youth council described the victims as hardworking and promising young members of the community whose disappearance has created widespread fear and uncertainty.
“The Jenta Adamu Central Youth Council wishes to inform the general public and security agencies of the unfortunate abduction of three of our vibrant youths: Kweti Jonathan Menje, Habila Sunday, and Samuel,” the statement said.
According to the council, the victims were on their way back to Jos after concluding a business engagement in Akure when the incident occurred.
“The victims, who are residents of the Jenta Adamu community in Jos North Local Government Area, were travelling back to Jos from Akure, Ondo State, after a business trip when the commercial vehicle they were travelling in was intercepted by armed men in Kogi State on Monday. The gunmen forcefully took them to an unknown location,” the statement added.
Community leaders disclosed that shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers established contact with members of the victims’ families and issued demands for their release.
According to the information provided by the youth council, the abductors are demanding a ransom of ₦10 million for each victim, bringing the total ransom demand to ₦30 million.
The kidnappers reportedly warned that failure to meet their demands within a specified period could have grave consequences for the victims.
“The abductors have since contacted the families of the victims, demanding a ransom of ₦10 million for each person, totalling ₦30 million. They also issued a strict warning that the victims would be killed if the money is not paid within the deadline they specified,” the council stated.
The development has heightened tension within the Jenta Adamu community, where residents have expressed deep concern over the safety and wellbeing of the abducted youths.
Community members say the ransom demand is particularly devastating given the prevailing economic difficulties facing many Nigerian families. Relatives of the victims are said to be struggling to come to terms with the situation while desperately hoping for their safe return.
The youth council noted that the incident has plunged affected families into emotional distress and uncertainty.
“This disturbing development has created fear, pain, and anxiety among family members, friends, and the entire community, especially considering the current economic hardship facing many households,” the statement said.
The leadership of the community revealed that it had independently verified the information surrounding the abduction through direct communication with the families of the victims.
Concerned by the seriousness of the situation and the threat issued by the kidnappers, the council has appealed to the Federal Government, the governments of Plateau and Kogi states, as well as all relevant security agencies to urgently intervene.
The group stressed that time is of the essence and called on authorities to deploy every available resource to secure the release of the abducted youths before any harm comes to them.
“We have verified these accounts from the direct families of the victims and are using this medium to passionately appeal to the Federal Government, the Plateau State Government, the Kogi State Government, and all relevant security agencies to swiftly intervene and secure the safe release of our brothers,” the council stated.
The youth council also called on members of the public to support ongoing efforts by providing useful information that could aid rescue operations and by offering prayers for the victims and their families.
“We also call on the general public to join us in prayers for their safe return and to provide any useful information that could assist security agencies in rescuing them,” the statement added.
The latest abduction has once again highlighted growing concerns over insecurity along major highways and interstate routes across Nigeria, where travellers increasingly face the threat of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the most pressing security challenges confronting the country, with criminal gangs targeting commuters, business people, students, and residents in several parts of Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Kogi State Police Command and other security agencies had not issued any formal statement regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, families of the victims and members of the Jenta Adamu community continue to wait anxiously for positive news, hoping that security authorities will act swiftly to rescue the abducted youths and reunite them with their loved ones.
