Nineteen passengers in two fully loaded commercial buses have been abducted by suspected armed herdsmen at Jor community along the Adoka-Naka Road, in Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
It was gathered that the two buses were ambushed on Thursday morning in separate incidents at the same spot, located about three kilometres from Naka town, the Gwer West LGA headquarters.
Sources from the area disclosed that one of the vehicles was heading to Makurdi from Akpa in Kogi State, while the other was travelling to Lokoja from Makurdi when both ran into the armed ambush.
The Ter Tyoshin and Chairman of Gwer West Traditional Council, HRH Daniel Abomtse, confirmed the incident, stating that both vehicles were carrying about 12 passengers each, but an elderly woman, a breastfeeding mother, her two children, and one of the drivers were spared and not taken away.
He said, “The passengers and driver who were not taken away reported at the Police Station but they have just been released by the police.”
The Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), High Level Unit, Mr. Yakubu Onu, also confirmed the incident, noting that the spared individuals had reported at the Naka Police Station and were asked to continue their journey. However, he added that there has been no further update from the other passengers or those coming from Ankpa.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive official information about the incident.
