Tension In Benue As Bandits Kill Two, Abduct 14 Passengers

Suspected terrorists have reportedly kidnapped at least 14 passengers and shot dead two others during a night-time assault in the Okpokwu area of Benue State.

The latest incident happened barely 48 hours after armed men stormed a Catholic church in Ado Local Government Area and abducted worshippers during a vigil.

According to information gathered, the victims were travelling from communities in the Igede axis of Oju and Obi local government areas en route to the South-West on Monday when their vehicle was attacked.

The ambush occurred at about 7 p.m. along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga road within Okpokwu LGA.

It was gathered that the attackers intercepted the vehicle and began shooting after the driver attempted to escape.

“They departed Iheijwo Market in Oju LGA around 7 p.m.

The kidnappers stopped them on the road and took the passengers into the bush.

One person was shot dead before the driver stopped,” a source said.

It was further learnt that another passenger later succumbed to gunshot injuries at the scene.

Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, said he received details of the attack from his security aides.

“I was informed that some of our people were abducted around the Okpokwu axis. I learnt that two of the passengers were killed and the remaining passengers were taken away,” he said, noting that “he had contacted officers of the Department of State Services in the area.”

Efforts to get a response from the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to her phone were not returned as of the time of filing this report.