In a horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves across Benue State, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka road late Sunday night, killing the driver and abducting all the passengers on board.
The ambush occurred around 11 p.m., as the vehicle was reportedly traveling from Abuja to Otukpo. According to eyewitness accounts gathered by ConfirmNews, the attackers opened fire the moment the vehicle came into view.
The driver, hit by a bullet, lost control of the vehicle, which then swerved off the road and crashed into nearby bushes.
Tragically, the driver identified as a native of Adoka died from gunshot wounds. His lifeless body has since been recovered and taken back to his hometown by locals.
After the deadly assault, the assailants forcibly abducted all passengers in the vehicle, leaving the blood-stained bus abandoned at the scene of the crime.
Military personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported and have since launched a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official update on the number of kidnapped individuals or their whereabouts.
Residents of the Otukpo-Adoka axis are calling on the Benue State Government and security agencies to intensify patrols and ensure safer roads, especially during nighttime travel.
This incident adds to the growing wave of insecurity plaguing parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where attacks by suspected herdsmen have led to numerous deaths, kidnappings, and displacement of rural dwellers.
Stay with ConfirmNews for ongoing updates on this developing story.