Benue Girls Rescued in Abuja After Escaping Abuse

Two adolescent girls from Benue State have been rescued after being found wandering along a road in Abuja. The incident highlights the risks young people face when traveling alone without supervision.

On Monday, January 26, 2026, Rt. Comr. Cletus Adole Aruta, President General of the Omi Ny'Igede Youth Wing Development Association (ONYWDA) Worldwide, shared the update on Facebook.

The girls, Elizabeth Ebonyi and Hannah Okpe from Itogo Ipinu, Obi LGA, traveled to Abuja on January 13, 2026, using school funds provided by their parents. They were handed over to a woman for household work.

According to the report, the girls fled the woman’s home on January 24, 2026, due to suspected mistreatment. They were later discovered strolling on Abacha Road in Mararaba and were handed over to the police.

Aruta confirmed:

• The girls traveled to Abuja without their parents’ knowledge and were not trafficked.
• They were temporarily accommodated by the Abuja branch of ONYWDA until arrangements were made to return them home.
• The organization ensured that the girls would be handed over to the Itogo Progressive Association for safe return to their families.

Aruta praised the youth leaders involved, particularly Comrade Godwin Onuwa, who worked overnight to ensure the girls’ safety. He also highlighted the role of the Taskforce Committee on Child Trafficking, Drugs, and Substance Abuse, which will oversee the safe handover to the parents with strict safeguards.

He emphasized: “Let’s join hands together to fight the evil menace of child trafficking, drugs, and substance abuse in Igede land for a better and healthier society for our children.”