A fresh wave of violence has struck Benue State, where armed men suspected to be terrorists ambushed two commercial vehicles along the Makurdi–Naka–Adoka road on Thursday morning, abducting at least 14 passengers. The incident occurred between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., just outside the town of Naka, leaving residents and travelers alarmed by the region’s deteriorating security.
According to a commercial driver who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the attackers targeted a Toyota Picnic and a Sharon bus, each carrying 12 passengers.
Yakubu Onu, Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), High-Level Unit, confirmed the attack during a phone call. He said both vehicles belonged to union members operating from the High-Level Motor Park in Makurdi.
“The first vehicle was heading to Lokoja with nine passengers when it was attacked near Naka. Six passengers were taken by the gunmen,” Onu reported.
He added that the second vehicle, traveling from Ankpa in Kogi State to Makurdi, was ambushed at the same spot, and eight passengers were abducted.
According to Onu, three passengers and the driver from the first vehicle were not taken. The driver later informed police in Naka about the incident, but has not been heard from since.
The traditional ruler of Naka, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, confirmed the attack, stating that the gunmen intercepted both vehicles and kidnapped several passengers. He said some individuals—including an elderly woman, a breastfeeding mother, several children, and one of the drivers—were spared.
“The attack happened at Okpa, near Adoka, which borders Gwer West Local Government Area. This zone has become a refuge for criminals due to lack of effective governance,” the monarch explained.
This latest attack follows another incident earlier in the month, where two people were killed and 13 others abducted near the Otukpo Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area.
Benue Links Nigeria Limited confirmed that attack in a statement through its Information Officer, Johnson Daniel, who said efforts were being made to rescue the kidnapped individuals.
