Gunmen abducted nine passengers, including the driver of a Benue Links vehicle, along the Owukpa–Orokam road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack occurred around 7 p.m. on Saturday near the Eyiupi community as the victims were returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa. The assailants, suspected to be armed herdsmen, reportedly ambushed the vehicle and opened fire, causing the driver to lose control.
Local sources confirmed that the passengers were ambushed by the attackers, who shot the driver and another passenger, forcing the vehicle to veer off the road. A resident of Owukpa, Grace, who spoke to journalists, 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.”
She further revealed, “One of the victims was left behind because she was bleeding heavily from gunshot wounds, which the kidnappers feared might compromise their hideout.”
Residents said the injured victim is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area.
It was gathered that both young and adult female passengers were among those abducted in the ambush. One female passenger reportedly managed to escape during the attack.
This latest incident comes nearly two months after a similar attack in Ikobi, Otukpo LGA, where gunmen hijacked another Benue Links vehicle, killed the driver and two passengers, and abducted 14 others.
Leader of the Owukpa vigilante group, Amos Agada, confirmed the incident to journalists on Sunday. He stated that as of that morning, “the kidnappers had not contacted any of the victims’ families.” He also added that “the local security operatives were already making efforts to rescue the abducted passengers.”
Also speaking on the incident, a community leader, Hon. Adikwu Daniel, raised alarm over the persistent insecurity in the area. He urged the local authorities to act urgently to address the growing threat. “I want to call on the Chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Council to liaise with relevant security agencies to act fast to rescue the victims. The area had long been a danger zone, but no serious security network is in place to stop or reduce these attacks,” he said.
When reached for comment, the Public Relations Officer of Benue Links Transport Company, Ehi Johnson, said he was not in a position to speak on the incident at the moment but assured that updates would be provided in due course.
Local vigilante groups, backed by concerned residents, have since launched search operations in surrounding areas. Families of the victims and the wider community remain anxious as security efforts continue.
