In Jor community, along the Adoka-Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, suspected armed herdsmen kidnapped 19 passengers in two commercial buses on Thursday morning.
The Intercept learnt that the buses were ambushed in two different but closely spaced incidents along the same route, about three kilometres from Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters.
One car was driving from Ankpa, Kogi State, to Makurdi, while the other was travelling from Makurdi to Lokoja when they were ambushed.
Both Ter Tyoshin and His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, the chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, confirmed the attacks.
“I was told that each vehicle had about 12 passengers on board. However, an elderly woman, a nursing mother with her two children, and one of the drivers were not taken,” he said.
These spared persons apparently informed police at the Naka Police Station immediately after the occurrence. They have since been freed by the police.
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The abduction was also confirmed by Yakubu Onu, the secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, or NURTW, High Level Unit, which is in charge of the main transport park along the route.
“The surviving passengers made their way to the police station and were later allowed to continue their journey,” he said.
“We are still awaiting updates from our members coming from Ankpa and have not heard from the kidnapped victims.”
