Gunmen Abduct 14 Passengers in Benue State Attack
Gunmen have reportedly abducted at least 14 passengers along the Makurdi/Naka/Adoka road in Benue State, in an attack that occurred between 10 and 11 am on Thursday, approximately three kilometers from Naka, the headquarters of the Gwer West Local Government Area.
According to an unnamed commercial driver, two vehicles—Picnic and Sharon buses—were involved in the attack, with each bus carrying 12 passengers.
Yakubu Onu, secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), High-Level Unit, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation, revealing that both vehicles belong to NURTW members from High-Level Park in Makurdi. Onu explained that one of the buses was en route to Lokoja from Makurdi when it was ambushed near Naka. The second bus, traveling from Ankpa, Kogi State to Makurdi, was ambushed at the same location.
Onu shared that the first vehicle had nine passengers on board, with six abducted by the gunmen. In the second vehicle, eight passengers were taken. Fortunately, three passengers from the first vehicle were spared, and the driver, along with the three passengers, proceeded to the Naka police station to report the incident.
The Traditional Ruler of Naka, HRH Daniel Abomtse, also confirmed the abductions. He revealed that the gunmen targeted two commercial vehicles, taking several passengers while sparing an elderly woman, a breastfeeding mother, and some children with the driver.
Abomtse noted that the incident occurred near Okpa, a border area between Adoka and Gwer West LGA, which has become a haven for criminals due to the presence of ungoverned spaces in the region. He called on the Federal Government to conduct aerial surveys of the coastal areas of Benue and Nasarawa States to address the security challenges.
When contacted, Catherine Anene, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, stated she was not aware of the incident.
