Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Jevaun Rhashan
The Nigerian sports world is reeling after the reported abduction of Ihotu John Rebecca, a professional footballer with Pacesetter Queens FC competing in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership. The incident, which took place along the Benin Expressway, has drawn widespread alarm from supporters, sports personalities, and security analysts who are calling for urgent intervention.
Reports indicate that Rebecca was abducted on Friday while returning home from league activity, possibly after a match in Abuja, as she travelled along the Benin Expressway — one of Nigeria’s busiest and most security-sensitive highway corridors. Witnesses and social media sources say unknown gunmen intercepted her vehicle and seized her before disappearing into nearby forested routes.
In the days since the attack, multiple online accounts and family statements obtained by local news outlets have confirmed that her captors are demanding a ransom of ₦20 million for her release. The figure, according to relatives, is beyond the immediate means of the family, prompting a public appeal to well-meaning Nigerians, sports stakeholders, government officials, and federal security agencies for support and rapid action to secure her release.
The head coach of Pacesetter Queens FC, Akinwunmi Isogun, separately confirmed the abduction in an interview with FIJ, explaining that Rebecca was travelling after a team fixture when the incident occurred. He urged authorities to prioritise her safe recovery while expressing shock at the targeting of an athlete simply returning home.
Social media platforms have played a significant role in amplifying awareness of the case, with photos of Rebecca in her club kit spreading rapidly and fans tagging government and security handles in urgent pleas. The incident has sparked outrage and concern among fans of women’s football in Nigeria, many of whom expressed distress that athletes — especially female players — are vulnerable to abduction while travelling for sport commitments.
The Benin Expressway has long been identified as a location with persistent security challenges; highway kidnappings along this route, which connects Lagos with eastern and southern Nigeria, have been reported repeatedly in recent years. Past incidents, such as the abduction of passengers on the Benin–Akure highway and other road corridors, have highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by travellers in this region.
As of the latest reports, neither Pacesetter Queens FC, the NWFL, nor the Nigeria Police Force has formally released detailed statements on the abduction or the ongoing response. Security forces, however, are believed to have been alerted, with police and local vigilante networks monitoring the expressway and surrounding rural tracks for possible leads.
Family members continue to appeal for public support and swift government action. They have described Rebecca as a young woman who has dedicated her life to women’s football and urged that her safe return be made a national priority, warning that delays could put her life at grave risk.
The situation remains fluid, with public anxiety high and supporters across Nigeria urging enhanced patrols on major roads and more robust protective measures for athletes and other vulnerable travellers. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on securing Rebecca’s freedom and addressing broader concerns about kidnapping trends along national transportation corridors.
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