Kidnap victim cries out over threat to own life

Nearly a year after he was kidnapped at his residence at No 5 Church road, New Karu, Nasarawa state,,Mr Oije Alade Abih, is crying out for help because he said the abductors have been threatening him for disclosing information about them to the police.

Upon the release, he reportedly spoke to the press about the incident and also informed the police about the general insecurity in Agatu local government area of Benue state where he hails from.

Subsequently, he was traced to his residence because during the kidnap saga, he said the ransom was paid to the abductors in his house through his younger brother, one Inalegwu John Abih and it was believed that the kidnappers had marked his residence.

In a statement he made available to Blueprint on Sunday, Oije said due to threats to his life by the abductors, the police had to evacuate him to safety.

“First, I was taken to Goshen City Winners Chapel at kilometre 24, Abuja-Keffi highway and later to Dunamis International Gospel Centre away from the prying eyes of those who wanted to kill me,” he said.

According to him, just when he thought the whole saga is over, the same kidnappers returned again.

“Recently, on the 1st of January 2025 at about 1am, some men in black suspected to be same kidnappers came to my residence and burnt down the house making the people living in the environment to run for their lives, but no death was recorded,” he said.

Since the initial kidnap, there has been other attempts on his life, for instance, on January 22, 2024, he was traced to his residence by alleged kidnappers with the intention to kill him but narrowly escaped through the backdoor.

It could be recalled that kidnappers suspected to be Fulani terrorists abducted him and other passengers traveling from Abuja to Benue State on December 10, 2023 but released him on December 18 after paying a ransom of N20million.

Three of the passengers who could not pay the ransom were killed by the kidnappers.