Gunmen abduct 15 passengers in Benue

No fewer than 15 passengers have been abducted by gunmen along the Adoka-Naka road in Gwer West LGA of Benue state. 

According to Channels Television, Yakubu Onu, secretary of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in charge of High Level Unit, said the incident occurred on Thursday.

Onu said two commercial vehicles travelling in opposite directions were targeted by the attackers.

“The first vehicle carried nine passengers from High Level Motor Park in Makurdi en route Lokoja through Naka-Adoka Road which connects Ankpa in Kogi State, before six, out of the nine passengers, were abducted and taken to the bush,” he said.

“The second vehicle was coming from Ankpa in Kogi through the same route, heading to Makurdi with eight passengers on board and ran into the kidnappers who also abducted them at the same spot near Naka town in Gwer West.

“The driver and the three passengers who were spared went to report at Naka police station and were asked to continue their journey, but we have yet to hear from them.

“Also, we have yet to get further information from those coming from Ankpa in Kogi State.”

Daniel Abomtse, the Ter Tyoshin of Gwer West, said the abduction occurred just three kilometres from Naka town.

He said two commercial buses were hijacked and some passengers were taken away by the attackers.

“Two vehicles were involved, a picnic bus and Sharon bus. The police just released the passengers that were not taken away,” he added.

Sewuese Anene, spokesperson of the Benue police command, told TheCable that she was yet to be briefed.

“I don’t have this report please,” Anene said.

In recent weeks, Benue has been the scene of a series of gunmen attacks, with more than 200 people reportedly killed in two weeks.

Hyacinth Alia, governor of the state, said the perpetrators are “foreign elements” who speak unfamiliar languages.

The governor added that the state is facing a threat more dangerous than the age-long farmer-herder conflict.

Homes have been torched, properties destroyed, and several people have sustained injuries.

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), who described the attacks as a national tragedy on Tuesday, pledged the federal government’s commitment to curbing insecurity in the state.