Gunmen kidnap 15 passengers, kill one in Benue

Gunmen suspected to be wearing military uniforms have abducted at least 15 passengers and killed one person in an attack in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident occurred on Sunday at about 7.30 pm in Ado Okpoga, along the Oju–Ado Ekiti road.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the passengers were travelling in a commercial bus from Oju Local Government Area of Benue to Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State when the attack happened.

The publication quoted sources as saying that the vehicle, driven by one Gbenga Peter, 35, had 23 passengers on board when it was intercepted by nine armed men.

“On reaching Ado Okpoga, the bus was attacked by nine armed bandits wearing army uniforms. Fifteen passengers were abducted into the bush,” the source said.

During the attack, one passenger was reportedly shot dead. The driver and eight other passengers escaped and later reported the incident at the Okpokwu police station.

TheCable could not independently verify the incident. Calls and text messages sent to Udeme Edet, spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, were not returned as of press time.

Meanwhile, the divisional police officer in Okpokwu has reportedly mobilised patrol teams in an effort to rescue the abducted passengers.