The incident, which occurred just outside Naka town between 10 and 11am, has left travellers and residents shaken, highlighting growing insecurity in the region.
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have struck on the Makurdi–Naka–Adoka road in Benue State ambushing two commercial vehicles on Thursday morning and abducting at least 14 passengers.
The incident, which occurred just outside Naka town between 10 and 11am, has left travellers and residents shaken, highlighting growing insecurity in the region.
Quoting a commercial driver who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, PUNCH noted that the attack involved two commercial vehicles — a Picnic and a Sharon bus — each carrying 12 passengers.
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, Yakubu Onu, Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), (High-Level Unit, said the two vehicles involved belonged to members of the union operating from the High-Level Park in Makurdi.
He explained that the first vehicle was traveling from Makurdi to Lokoja when it was ambushed by gunmen near Naka.
“The first vehicle was going to Lokoja with nine passengers on board, and six of them were abducted and taken into the bush,” he said.
He added that the second vehicle, which was traveling from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi, was also attacked at the same location.
“The second vehicle was coming from Ankpa to Makurdi. Eight passengers were abducted at the same spot near Naka,” Onu stated.
He further noted that three passengers from the first vehicle were spared, along with the driver, who later reported the incident to the police in Naka.
“The driver called and told us that after he reported at the police station in Naka, he was asked to proceed on his journey, but we have not heard from him,” Onu said.
The traditional ruler of Naka, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, also confirmed the abductions. He said the gunmen ambushed the two vehicles and made away with several passengers.
Some individuals were however reportedly spared.
Some of those who escaped included an elderly woman, a breastfeeding mother, a few children, and one of the drivers.
“The incident happened at Okpa, near Adoka, an area bordering Gwer West LGA. There is an ungoverned space around this area that has become a haven for criminals,” the monarch said.
Earlier this month, SaharaReporters reported that armed gunmen killed two persons and abducted 13 passengers in Benue State.
Reports indicated that the incident occurred near the Otukpo Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The development was confirmed by the management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited in a statement issued by the company’s Information Officer, Johnson Daniel. He said efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted passengers.
