Benue: Gunmen abduct 14 passengers, kill 2 in fresh Utonkon attack

By Johnson Arua 

Tragedy struck again on Monday night along the Utonkon axis of Benue State as gunmen ambushed a commercial bus, killing two passengers and abducting fourteen others. 

The latest attack came less than 24 hours after nine worshippers were abducted from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije, in the same Utonkon community during a night vigil. 

The bus, conveying 16 passengers from Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, was reportedly travelling to the South-West when it was intercepted by armed assailants at about 7:00pm along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga Road. 

A youth leader in Utonkon, who identified himself as Onwe said the passengers had earlier departed Iheijwo Market in Oju Local Government Area before running into the attackers. 

“They left Iheijwo Market around 7pm, full of hope and expectation, but unfortunately ran into kidnappers along the Utonkon road,” the source said. 

According to him, the assailants ordered the driver to stop, but when he attempted to drive past them, the gunmen opened fire, killing two passengers instantly. 

“When the driver refused to stop, they started shooting. Two people were killed on the spot, while the remaining passengers were forced out of the bus and taken into the bush,” he explained. 

The source further disclosed that the attackers confiscated the passengers’ mobile phones to prevent them from contacting their families or alerting security agencies. 

It was gathered that all fourteen surviving passengers were initially taken into the forest, but two later regained their freedom under circumstances that remain unclear. 

As of Tuesday morning, the abandoned bus had been taken to the Utonkon Police Station, while the whereabouts of the remaining twelve abducted passengers were still unknown. 

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Mr. Jackson Onmiyi, said the attack occurred around the boundary between Ado and Okpokwu Local Government Areas. 

“Two of the victims were rescued alive, but sadly, two others were killed by the armed men. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining twelve persons still in captivity,” he said. 

Mr. Onmiyi commended the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area for his swift intervention, noting that his efforts contributed significantly to the rescue of the two survivors. 

“We are doing everything possible, in collaboration with security agencies, to ensure that the abducted passengers are rescued safely,” he assured. 

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached as of press time.