A man who regained his freedom after being abducted during the May 22 attack on a police checkpoint at Ojano along the Otukpo–Enugu Road in Benue State has alleged that armed herdsmen operating in the area maintain a notorious hideout they refer to as “Sambisa Forest.”
The victim, Mr. Fabian Akubobi, claimed that the forest serves as a detention camp where kidnapped victims are held while negotiations for ransom are carried out. He made the revelation while recounting his six-day experience in captivity.
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The attack, reportedly carried out by suspected armed herders, occurred near Ojano in Otukpo Local Government Area and was said to have claimed the life of a young man.
Akubobi, a building materials trader from Orlu in Imo State, explained that he was travelling home after purchasing goods in Benue when the incident occurred around 9 p.m.
According to him, the vehicle transporting him and several other passengers was ambushed near Ochobo Bridge by heavily armed men. The assailants allegedly fired at the vehicle, punctured one of its tyres, and forced the occupants into the surrounding bush.
“At first, we assumed they were robbers interested only in money, but they eventually led us far into the forest,” he recalled.
The trader said he and the other captives were made to trek for hours through the night before reaching the kidnappers’ camp, where they endured difficult conditions for nearly a week.
He disclosed that the abductors initially demanded N10 million for his release, while some other victims were reportedly asked to pay as much as N20 million.
“They requested N10 million from me, while others were told to produce N20 million. My brother was only able to gather N1 million, and after six days they finally released me,” he said.
Akubobi further alleged that the kidnappers repeatedly referred to their base as “Sambisa Forest,” a name associated with the notorious forest once used by insurgents in northeastern Nigeria.
“The kidnappers themselves called the place Sambisa Forest. That was the name they used throughout our captivity,” he stated.
He also claimed that all the armed men guarding the camp appeared to be herders who operated openly within the area.
Following their release, Akubobi said he and other victims reported the incident to security agencies.
The survivor further alleged that the ransom payment was delivered to a location behind the Idoma Doctors Association building in Otukpo.
His account was reportedly supported by citizen journalist Mr. Meddy Olotu, who interviewed him shortly after he regained freedom. Olotu claimed that the same location had repeatedly been used for ransom transactions in previous kidnapping cases within the area.
According to him, several past abductions involving travellers and students were allegedly resolved through payments made at the same spot.
Olotu expressed concern over what he described as the continued use of the location by kidnappers despite repeated reports from residents and victims.
“The area behind the Idoma Doctors Association building has been mentioned in numerous kidnapping incidents around Otukpo. Residents have repeatedly raised alarms, yet the criminals appear to continue operating there without interruption,” he said.
He called for urgent action from security agencies to investigate the allegations and address the growing concerns over kidnapping activities in the area.
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