A fresh wave of insecurity has gripped parts of Benue State after armed men ambushed a commercial vehicle along the Ogobia–Adoka route in Otukpo Local Government Area, forcing passengers into the surrounding bush and leaving communities unsettled.
The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, involved a public transport vehicle reportedly chased off the road by the attackers.
Witnesses said the gunmen fired shots at the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control before the passengers were overpowered and marched away.
Residents recounted the episode with a mixture of fear and frustration.
One villager described the moment the gunmen struck, noting that the vehicle “somersaulted into the bush as bullets rained on it,” adding that the driver “did not survive the assault.” That claim has not been verified by security officials.
By Monday morning, families in the area remained in the dark about the fate of the abducted travellers, heightening concerns about the worsening security along rural roads long plagued by criminal gangs.
The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Omakwu, confirmed the attack and acknowledged that many questions remain unanswered.
He explained that the local authorities are still trying to determine the number of people involved since the passengers inside the vehicle have not been officially identified.
“We are still piecing together the details,” Omakwu said in a telephone interview.
“The exact number of victims is unclear, but based on the size of the vehicle, we estimate that at least six people may have been taken.”
He noted that while rumours suggest the kidnappers may have established communication with some families, no official update has yet been received. “We are monitoring the situation closely and hoping for a swift resolution,” he added.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of highway abductions in North-Central Nigeria, fuelling calls for a more coordinated security response across vulnerable communities.