Authorities in Benue State have intensified efforts to rescue 11 passengers and a driver who were kidnapped on Sunday evening by armed men in Okpokwu Local Government Area.
The victims were aboard a Benue Links transport bus, traveling from Abeokuta in Ogun State to Makurdi, the Benue capital, when the attackers struck around 6:30 p.m. near the Eke area along the Otukpo-Otukpa-Enugu road.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants intercepted the vehicle, forcibly removed the passengers, and led them into a nearby forest after dispossessing them of their belongings. One of the victims managed to escape and promptly reported the incident at the Eke Police Station.
Benue Links Transport Company confirmed the abduction in a statement issued by its Information Officer, Johnson Daniel, on Monday. The company expressed deep regret over what it called a “tragic development” and assured the public that it is cooperating with security personnel to ensure the safe return of the abductees.
According to the company, the affected vehicle, bearing Registration Number 14B – 143BN, was discovered abandoned by the roadside, with some personal effects of the passengers still intact inside the bus.
The company explained that the ill-fated bus had departed Abeokuta with a total of 12 passengers and the driver, all of whom were presumed to have been abducted, save for the lone individual who managed to flee. This survivor has since given an account of the incident to the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command has confirmed that a combined security team has been mobilized to the scene. Police spokesperson SP Udeme Edet explained that officers from various tactical units, including personnel from the military and members of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, had been dispatched to the forested area. Their mission: to track down the kidnappers and free the captives.
The police disclosed that shortly after the report was made, the joint team combed the bush and succeeded in locating Paul Terna, the lone escapee, who had managed to evade his captors. Security reinforcements have since been sent to bolster the ongoing search-and-rescue effort, which includes the deployment of surveillance drones to aid in locating the hostages.
According to SP Edet, the Commissioner of Police for Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, has personally relocated to the area to supervise operations on the ground. He noted that the commissioner’s presence underscores the urgency with which the situation is being handled.
Though there were no new updates by Monday night, the state’s law enforcement authorities remain hopeful that the remaining victims will be rescued and reunited with their families soon.
This incident adds to the growing list of security concerns along Nigeria’s highways, particularly in the North Central region, where frequent abductions and acts of violence have raised fears among travelers and residents alike.
The use of drones in the ongoing operation reflects a more technology-driven approach by security agencies, who are under pressure to deliver results in the face of increasing criminal activity.
What you should know
The Benue Links bus abduction in Okpokwu LGA underscores the growing insecurity on Nigerian highways. With 12 individuals taken by armed assailants and only one escaping, the incident has triggered a full-scale rescue mission backed by drones and coordinated security forces.
