Bodies of Abducted Kaduna Woman and Interstate Driver Found in Kogi Forest Despite ₦3.5m Ransom Payment
The lifeless bodies of a Kaduna-based woman and an interstate commercial driver have been found in a forest in Kogi State, days after their families paid a reported ₦3.5 million ransom in a bid to secure their release from kidnappers, authorities and family sources said.
The victims have been identified as Loveth Zarah Alegbe, a young woman from Kaduna State, and Nweke Bartholomew Chukwuma, an interstate driver transporting passengers between major Nigerian cities.
According to sources familiar with the cases, both victims were abducted on January 6, 2026, in separate incidents but were allegedly held by the same criminal gang operating in parts of Kogi State. The kidnappers reportedly seized Loveth while she was travelling through Ofu Local Government Area, and intercepted Chukwuma along a highway route as he conveyed passengers from Abuja to eastern Nigeria.
Family members said the kidnappers contacted them shortly after the abductions and demanded a ₦3.5 million ransom for the victims’ release. After prolonged negotiations and fundraising efforts, the full ransom amount was reportedly paid in good faith, with relatives hopeful that the payment would secure the safe return of their loved ones.
However, the kidnappers allegedly went silent after receiving the money, refusing to respond to phone calls or provide any information about where the victims were being held. The sudden lack of communication raised fears among relatives and local contacts, prompting a search that eventually led to the grim discovery.
Security operatives were alerted once the bodies were found in the Abocho area of Dekina Local Government Area, a region with dense forest known for repeated kidnapping activities and criminal hideouts. Local police assisted in evacuating the remains from the forest.
The remains of Chukwuma were later transported to Enugu State by his family for burial arrangements, while Alegbe’s body was returned to Kaduna State for her final rites, relatives said.
The tragic outcome has renewed concerns about the growing threat of kidnapping and banditry across parts of Nigeria, especially along major highways and in forested areas where armed gangs often operate with impunity. Kidnapping for ransom has become a persistent security challenge in central and northern Nigeria, with criminal groups frequently targeting travellers, commuters, and rural communities.
Security agencies have been under pressure to tackle the surge in abductions, but incidents like this underscore the difficulties faced by authorities in protecting citizens and ensuring safe travel on key transport routes. Families of victims and local leaders continue to call for stronger interventions to curb the menace of kidnappings and prevent further loss of life.
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