Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nigeria’s sports community has breathed a collective sigh of relief after the safe release of Ihotu John Rebecca, a former star player in the Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership, who was kidnapped while travelling along the notorious Benin–Ore Expressway last week, in an incident that underscored the persistent security challenges facing travellers on major corridors in the country.
The footballer was abducted last Friday while returning from Ibadan, where she had been after being released from her club, Pacesetter Queens FC, at the conclusion of the first half of the 2025/26 season. She had informed her family she was travelling to Asaba to visit a relative before proceeding to her home state of Benue when gunmen intercepted her vehicle at an unspecified location along the expressway.
Her release was confirmed on Thursday after her family paid a ransom of ₦1.5 million to her captors, far below the initial demand of ₦20 million. Relatives said the kidnappers had first reduced the ransom to ₦10 million before ultimately accepting a significantly lower amount, which was transmitted through the relative of another victim who was held in the same location as the footballer. They also revealed that the kidnappers began communicating through the other victim’s phone after initially hiding their number.
The ordeal lasted several days and generated alarm across Nigerian football circles, with friends, former teammates and supporters urging swift action. Parts of the ransom were reportedly raised by fellow players in the NWFL, highlighting solidarity within the women’s football community.
Reacting to the incident, a relative, Blessing Ojima, described the situation as harrowing and expressed relief at Ihotu’s safe return. She said the family received a call from the footballer on Thursday confirming her release after the ransom was sent. The emotional response from the family underscored the distress experienced during the period of captivity.
The kidnapping sparked significant engagement on social media, with widespread sharing of her images and calls for assistance. Fans and commentators demanded urgent intervention from security agencies, the Nigeria Football Federation, the NWFL and state authorities, while highlighting the vulnerability of athletes travelling long distances on poorly policed routes.
Pacesetter Queens FC, based in Oyo State, issued a public statement clarifying that Ihotu was no longer under contract at the time of her abduction, having been released during the mid-season transfer window. Despite this, the club expressed deep concern for her welfare and solidarity with her family. The statement stressed that while she was no longer formally a member of the club, her safety remained a priority for the organisation, emphasising that “beyond contracts and registrations are human lives.”
Prior to her release, the club had confirmed the abduction publicly and rallied support for efforts to secure her freedom, acknowledging the emotional impact of the incident on the team and its stakeholders.
The Benin–Ore Expressway — one of Nigeria’s most trafficked long-distance routes connecting southwestern and southern states — has been a persistent flashpoint for kidnappings and armed ambushes. Multiple incidents have occurred in recent months and years, with travellers often targeted by criminal gangs operating from dense forested areas adjacent to the highway.
Security analysts have noted that the expressway’s wide expanse and limited permanent security presence make it susceptible to roadside attacks. In recent months alone, armed bandits have abducted numerous travellers along the corridor, sometimes demanding tens of millions of naira in ransom. These incidents have prompted calls for increased patrols and stronger security measures along the route.
The kidnapping of a well-known athlete reignited debates about the safety of public figures and civilians alike when moving between states. Observers drew attention to the broader issue of travel security for sports professionals, who often have to traverse long distances on commercial roads without formal escort or police protection.
Women footballers, in particular, were cited by commentators as a group in need of structured travel safety plans given the geographic spread of the league’s fixtures and the limited resources available to many clubs. The case highlighted the absence of formal duty-of-care policies for players, which stakeholders in the Nigerian football ecosystem are now urging league administrators and clubs to adopt.
Though Ihotu’s release has been welcomed, the incident served as a stark reminder of the ongoing insecurity on major Nigerian road corridors and the human cost of criminal networks that continue to exploit gaps in transportation security. With the footballer now safe, family members and supporters are calling on authorities to intensify efforts to protect travellers and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments