Armed men suspected to be bandits have abducted 19 passengers in two commercial vehicles along the Makurdi/Naka/Adoka Road in Benue State on Thursday.
The incidents, according to locals, happened at about three kilometres from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West local government area of the State, which is a hotshot for attacks and kidnapping.
A commercial driver, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the vehicles involved were Picnic and Sharon model buses – each of the vehicles carrying nine and 10 passengers including their drivers, respectively.
Confirming the incident, the secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), High-Level Unit, Yakubu Onu, said the two commercial vehicles belong to their members.
He said one of the vehicles had left Makurdi, the State capital, to Lokoja in Kogi State earlier on Thursday morning when it was ambushed by gunmen near Naka town.
Onu added that the second vehicle, which was ambushed at the same spot, was coming from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi.
“The first vehicle was going to Lokoja with nine passengers on board and six of them were abducted and taken to the bush,” he stated.
Also confirming the incident, the Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, HRH Daniel Abomtse, informed that an elderly woman, a lactating mother and her two children, including a driver, were not abducted.
According to him, “the spared passengers reported the incident to the Police Station, and they were later released to continue their journey.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive any information regarding the incidents.
UPDATED
14 Benue Links passengers kidnapped in Otukpo regain freedom
The Police Command in Benue, on Friday rescued 14 passengers of Benue Links, kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Thursday evening in Otukpo LGA of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, made this known in a statement, in Makurdi.
Ms Anene said that the bus was attacked on April 3, around Otukpo Burnt Bricks area, leading to the death of the driver and one passenger.
She said the armed kidnappers thereafter took away the remaining 14 other passengers to an unknown destination.
The PRO said the command, in collaboration with the State Civil Protection Guard, rushed to the scene and found the driver and a passenger with gunshot injuries in the vehicle, while others were whisked away by the kidnappers.
“The injured were conveyed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead by a doctor.
“The team launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately.
“On April 4, at about 1500hrs, they sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel. The superior fire power of the police subdued them and they took to their heels, abandoning their captives.
“Unfortunately, they had inflicted matchet cuts on two of the victims before the rescue. Fourteen victims were rescued and taken to the hospital, where one was confirmed dead and others are currently receiving treatment,” she said.
Ms Anene said that the Commissioner of Police, Steve Yabanet, commiserated with families of the deceased and pledged to bring the perpetuators to book.
She said that he enjoined the people of Otukpo to look out for suspects with gunshot injuries and report to the Police, as many of the bandits received gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire.
