Gunmen Abduct 9 Passengers in Benue

• Gunmen abducted 9 passengers, including the driver of a Benue State-owned transport company bus, along the Owukpa-Orokam road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

• The attack occurred around 7 pm on Saturday while passengers were returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa.

Gunmen have abducted nine passengers, including the driver of a Benue State-owned transport company bus, along the Owukpa-Orokam road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident occurred around 7 pm on Saturday while the passengers were returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers shot the driver and another passenger, causing the vehicle to lose control and veer off the road.

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The other passengers were later kidnapped. A resident of Owukpa, Grace Ogwuche, who spoke to journalists on Sunday, said:

He said, “They shot the driver and one other person, causing the vehicle to lose control and veer off the road. The other passengers were later kidnapped.”

The Leader of the Owukpa vigilante group, Amos Agada, confirmed the incident and stated that the kidnappers had not contacted any of the victims’ families.

He added that local security operatives were already making efforts to rescue the abducted passengers.

One of the passengers who sustained severe gunshot wounds during the attack was left behind due to excessive bleeding and is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, Okpokwu LGA.

A community leader, Adikwu Daniel, urged the Chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Council and security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the victims and install a sustainable security presence along the route. He said:

“The area had long been a danger zone, and no serious security network is in place to stop or reduce these attacks.”

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The Benue State Commissioner for Energy and Transport, Omale Omale, referred inquiries to the general manager of Benue Link, stating he had yet to receive the report.

The Benue Link Transport company Information Officer, Mr. Ehi Johnson, promised to speak on the matter at a later time.