Nigeria: Gunmen abduct commercial bus passengers in Benue State
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Several passengers were abducted on Sunday evening when gunmen attacked a commercial vehicle along the Eke axis in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to a local source, the incident took place around 6:30 p.m. The attackers reportedly intercepted the bus, robbed the passengers, and then took some of them into the nearby bush. The vehicle is believed to belong to the Benue State Transport Company, also known as Benue Links, though the company has not confirmed this.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday. Police spokesperson, Superintendent Udeme Edet, said a Hummer bus with registration number 14B-43BN was found abandoned by the roadside in Ugbokolo. Security teams, including the police, military, and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guard, responded swiftly.
One passenger, identified as Paul Terna, managed to escape from the kidnappers and was rescued during the operation. Edet noted that reinforcements have been deployed and search efforts are ongoing to locate and free the remaining abducted passengers.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of victims taken during the attack.
