BREAKING: Armed herdsmen abducts 19 passengers after intercepting 2 commercial buses in Benue

Suspected armed herdsmen have intercepted two buses and abducted 19 passengers along the Makurdi/Naka Road in Benue State on Thursday, thereby worsening insecurity in the State.

The scene of the incident, according to locals is about three kilomentres away from Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area of the State, which has been known for dangerous attacks and kidnapping.

A commercial driver who narrowly escaped from the scene told journalists that the vehicles involved were picnic and Sharon model buses with each carrying nine and ten passengers, their drivers inclusive.

In a telephone conversation with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, High Level unit, Makurdi, the union Secretary, Yakubu Onu confirmed the incident to journalists, the kidnapped drivers are members of their union who took off from their garage on that fateful day.

He said one of the vehicles had left Makurdi, the State capital, to Lokoja in Kogi State earlier on Thursday morning when it was ambushed by gunmen near Naka town, adding that the second vehicle fully loaded was ambushed at the same spot while on its way from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi.

Onu added that the second vehicle, which was ambushed at the same spot, was coming from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi.

“The first vehicle was going to Lokoja with nine passengers on board and six of them were abducted and taken to the bush,” he stated.

Also confirming the incident, the Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, HRH Daniel Abomtse, informed that an elderly woman, a lactating mother and her two children, including a driver, were not abducted.

According to him, “the spared passengers reported the incident to the Police Station, and they were later released to continue their journey.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive any information regarding the incidents.

The incident took place barely two weeks after bandits raided Benue communities of Logo and Ukum killing scores of locals.