Gunmen Kidnap 16 Travelers, kill 2 In Benue Community

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

No fewer than 16 travellers were on  Monday night abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in the Ado  Local Government Area of Benue State.

It was gathered that the victims were kidnapped along Utonkon-Ojapo/Okpoga road in Ado LGA of the State.

The latest abduction of 15 passengers is coming barely 24 hours after nine worshippers were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen from St. John’s Catholic church Ojije in Utonkon Ado LGA of the state.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Utonkon socio-cultural organisation, Ufia Development Association(UDA), Comrade Jude Onwe, who confirmed this latest ugly development to newsmen on phone in Makurdi on Tuesday, said that  where the incidence happened was a boundary between Utonkon community in Ado Local Government Area and Ojapo-Okpoga community in Okpokwu local government area of the State.

He explained that an 18 seater bus conveying 16 Igede speaking passengers from Oju  and Obi Local Government Area Areas were ambushed and abducted along the Utonkon road at about 7pm on Monday.

According to him, the passengers were traveling from the  local axis to one of the States in the South West of Nigeria for different purposes before they fell victims.

“From what I established, the abductees left Iheijwo Market, Oju LGA, at about 7pm. The driver passed through Utonkon-Ojapo/Okpoga Road, Ado LGA, Benue State, when the kidnappers stopped them and  took 15 passengers into the bush. One person was shøt dead when the driver refused to stop.

“They collected their phones to prevent them from contacting their relatives and in the process one of them was killed”, he said.

When contacted, the executive chairman of Oju local government council, Me. Jackson Ominyi confirmed the incident, saying 16 travellers were attacked and abducted along Utonkon-Ojapo/Okpoga road in Ado LGA of the State.

He  confirmed that two (2) people were shot dead while another two(2) persons were rescued through the effort of his Okpokwu counterpart,  

“I commend the effort of the Okpokwu Chairman for ensuring the rescue of 2 persons so far and also, his assurance to rescue all remaining 12 abductees.

“This is a pathetic situation that that called for government urgent attention”, said.

Efforts to get reaction from the Benue State command police public relations officer PPRO DSP Udeme Edet proved abortive as she could not respond to text messages or calls put across to her.