Gunmen Strike Benue Highway: Passengers Abducted, Driver Feared Dead

According to Ireporter Online, armed men abducted passengers traveling along the Ogobia–Adoka road in Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, over the weekend, generating widespread fear among local communities.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants forced a commercial vehicle off the road, opened fire, and caused it to veer into a nearby bush before forcibly taking its occupants. Locals further claimed that the driver was killed during the attack, though authorities have yet to officially confirm the fatality.

“They forced the vehicle off the road into the bush. The driver was killed, and the passengers were taken after the vehicle stopped,” a resident recounted.

As of the time of this report, the whereabouts of the abducted passengers remain unknown. Alfred Omakwu, Chairman of Otukpo LGA, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, stating that the attack occurred two days prior but the exact number of victims is unclear.

“We don’t know the exact number of people kidnapped because we don’t know how many were in the vehicle. However, given the capacity of the vehicle, we assume that about six persons could have been taken away by the abductors,” Mr. Omakwu said.

He also revealed that there is no information yet on whether the victims have been released, but speculations suggest that the abductors may have initiated contact with the families of those kidnapped.