Tragedy struck on Monday night along the Utonkon axis of Benue State as gunmen ambushed a commercial bus, killing two passengers and abducting 14 others.
The attack occurred barely 24 hours after nine worshippers were kidnapped from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, during a night vigil in the same area.
The bus, carrying 16 passengers from Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, was reportedly heading to the South-West when armed assailants intercepted it around 7:00 pm along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga Road.
A youth leader in Utonkon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the passengers had left Iheijwo Market in Oju Local Government Area earlier that evening. The gunmen reportedly ordered the driver to stop, but when he attempted to drive through, they opened fire, killing two people instantly. The remaining passengers were forced out of the vehicle and taken into the bush, with their mobile phones confiscated to prevent contact with families or security agencies.
Two of the abducted passengers later regained freedom under unclear circumstances, but the whereabouts of the remaining twelve victims remain unknown. The abandoned bus has been taken to the Utonkon Police Station.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Mr. Jackson Onmiyi, said the attack occurred at the boundary between Ado and Okpokwu Local Government Areas. He stated that two victims were rescued alive, while two others were killed. Search operations are ongoing in collaboration with security agencies to secure the release of the remaining abductees.
Onmiyi commended the intervention of the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, which contributed significantly to the rescue of the two survivors. Efforts to get a response from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached.
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