14 Passengers Kidnapped by Armed Men on Benue Highway

At least 14 travelers were abducted by gunmen on Thursday along the Makurdi–Naka–Adoka road in Benue State, disrupting the peace in the region.

The attack occurred between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., roughly three kilometers from Naka town, which serves as the administrative center of Gwer West Local Government Area.

The victims were passengers in two commercial vehicles—a Toyota Picnic and a Sharon bus—reportedly targeted by the assailants.

A driver familiar with the route, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the two buses had departed from different locations. One left Makurdi en route to Lokoja, while the other was coming from Ankpa in Kogi State heading toward Makurdi.

Mr. Yakubu Onu, Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the High-Level Unit, confirmed that both vehicles were registered under their Makurdi-based members. He stated that the first vehicle had nine passengers, six of whom were taken by the attackers, while the second vehicle had eight passengers kidnapped at the same spot.

Onu added that the driver of the first vehicle, along with three unhurt passengers, went to the police station in Naka to report the abduction. However, after lodging the complaint, he was told to continue his journey, and no further contact has been made with him.

Traditional ruler of Naka, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, also verified the incident. He revealed that some victims, including an elderly woman, a nursing mother, and several children, were released by the abductors. He noted that the area near Okpa, where the attack happened, borders Adoka and contains large stretches of unmonitored land that have become a refuge for criminal gangs.

The monarch appealed to the Federal Government to deploy aerial surveillance to scan forested and riverine areas of Benue and neighboring Nasarawa State to combat rising insecurity.

When reached for comment, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she had not yet received an official report regarding the incident.