Benue State has witnessed renewed waves of violence, with suspected bandits abducting 14 passengers and killing two along a major highway, while armed herders launched a deadly assault on a rural community, leaving five people dead.
The latest abduction occurred on Monday evening along the Okpokwu axis, where passengers travelling from the Igede area of Oju and Obi local government areas were intercepted while en route to the South West.
The incident comes barely 48 hours after nine worshippers were kidnapped during a vigil at St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area.
A local source in Makurdi said the passengers had departed Iheijwo Market in Oju LGA around 7 p.m. when the attackers struck.
“They departed Iheijwo Market in Oju LGA around 7 pm, and the driver passed through Utonkon-Ojapo/Okpoga road in Benue State when the kidnappers stopped them and took 15 passengers into the bush. One person was shot dead when the driver refused to stop,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, said two of the abducted passengers were killed during the attack.
“My security officer called me a few hours ago and told me that some of our people were abducted around the Okpokwu axis. I learnt that two of the passengers were killed and the bandits whisked away the remaining passengers,” Ominyi said.
The Benue State Police Command also confirmed the abduction. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said security agencies had launched an investigation.
“Concerning the abduction of passengers on Okpokwu road, it’s true it happened, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing, and we are on top of the situation,” Edet stated.
In a separate attack, armed herders reportedly killed five residents of Tuutuu community in Entekpa Ward of Adoka, Otukpo Local Government Area, triggering a mass displacement of villagers.
The ward head, Oliver Inalegwu, told journalists on Tuesday that the community had been deserted following the attack.
Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogri, described the incident as a carefully coordinated assault, alleging that the attackers used cattle as a diversion.
“I am just coming from the community, and what happened was that there was information that some strangers had entered the village,” Ogri said.
“After some time, they discovered that the issue of the cattle was just a decoy to push their attention towards where the cattle were. So, the cattle were coming from one direction, and the attackers also came from another direction.
“And while the cows were coming from another direction, they had already gone up hanging on trees, waiting for that direction before they could strike the community. They did a lot of damage. Instantly, five people were killed,” he added.
However, the police spokesperson said the command was yet to receive an official report on the Otukpo attack.
“I am yet to get a report from Otukpo on the incident. I will surely get back to you the moment I have the report,” Edet said.
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