Armed men have abducted passengers from a commercial bus operated by Benue Links Nigeria Ltd, in a brazen attack that has left 11 people and the driver missing. The incident took place on Sunday evening in Nigeria’s central Benue State.
According to a statement by the Benue State Police Command, the vehicle was travelling from Abeokuta to Makurdi when it was ambushed at Eke Elengbecho in Okpokwu Local Government Area. The bus, a Hummer model with registration number 14B-143BN, was later found abandoned with passengers’ luggage left inside.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Udeme Edet confirmed that security personnel, including tactical police teams and military support, were deployed swiftly. One passenger, Paul Terna, managed to escape from the kidnappers and was rescued from nearby bushland.
Efforts to trace and recover the remaining victims are ongoing, according to the police. “We are actively investigating and conducting a search operation. Additional reinforcements have been sent to the area,” Edet added.
In a separate statement, Benue Links Nigeria Ltd spokesperson Johnson Ehi said the company condemned the incident in the strongest terms and assured families of the victims that they are working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe return of those abducted. He praised the rapid response by law enforcement and expressed hope for a swift resolution.
