Bandits hijack commercial vehicle in Benue, kill driver, abduct passengers

By Benedicta Aboh

Suspected bandits have hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Ogobia-Adoka road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing the driver and abducting about five passengers.

The incident has heightened fear in communities around the area, with residents describing the route as “increasingly unsafe.”

A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers laid an ambush for the fully loaded vehicle, forcing it off the road into the bush before shooting the driver.

“They shot the driver, known as Arrow of God from Aila in Agatu LGA. After killing him, they marched about five passengers into the forest. Nobody knows where they were taken,” the source said.

He added that villagers were still in shock, noting that the assailants operated “without any resistance.”

The attack occurred less than three weeks after armed men killed two security operatives at a checkpoint along the same route during a stop-and-search operation.

“This road has become a danger zone. If security is not strengthened, more people may fall victim to the criminals,” the source warned.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Mr Maxwell Ogiri, were unsuccessful. The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could also not be reached at press time.