Gunmen kill driver, abduct passengers in Benue highway ambush

Terror struck travelers along the Otukpo-Adoka road on Sunday night as gunmen suspected to be herdsmen ambushed a commercial vehicle, killing the driver and abducting all passengers in a brazen attack that has left the region in shock.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m., as the vehicle was making its way to Otukpo from Abuja.

Eyewitnesses recount that the armed assailants, lying in wait, opened fire as the vehicle approached, hitting the driver and forcing the vehicle to veer off the highway into the surrounding bush.

According to one local who arrived shortly after the incident, the assailants quickly surrounded the vehicle, forcibly dragged all the passengers out, and disappeared with them into the darkness.

The abandoned vehicle was later recovered near the scene of the ambush.

READ ALSO: Gunmen attack Police headquarters in Enugu, kill officer, steal weapons

The slain driver, who has been identified as a native of Adoka, tragically died from a gunshot wound and has since been transported back to his hometown for burial preparations.

Security sources confirmed that military personnel have now taken control of the crime scene and launched a manhunt to track down the perpetrators and rescue the kidnapped victims.

As of press time, there has been no official word on the number of passengers abducted or their identities.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of violent attacks and kidnappings along major highways in Benue State, an area that has witnessed persistent security challenges attributed to armed herders and bandits.

Sunday night’s attack is expected to intensify calls for a comprehensive security overhaul and the deployment of more personnel to safeguard interstate roads.

Local residents have expressed outrage and fear over the rising insecurity. Many commuters now avoid traveling at night due to the growing threat of roadside abductions and violence.

State authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but security sources say intelligence-gathering efforts have been intensified in collaboration with local vigilantes and community leaders.

As families of the abducted passengers anxiously await news, pressure is mounting on security agencies to act swiftly to prevent a repeat of such attacks and restore confidence among road users.