At least 15 travellers were reportedly abducted by gunmen on Thursday in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred along the Adoka-Naka Road, where the victims were intercepted and taken by the assailants.
Confirming the development, Yakubu Onu, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), High Level Unit, expressed concern over the persistent dangers faced by transporters using the route.
Onu revealed that two vehicles carrying the abducted passengers were involved in the incident.
Authorities are yet to release further details regarding the situation or efforts to secure the release of the victims.
He said, “The first vehicle carried nine passengers from HighLevel Motor Park in Makurdi enroute Lokoja through Naka-Adoka Road which connects Ankpa in Kogi State, before six, out of the nine passengers, were abducted and taken to the bush.
“The second vehicle was coming from Ankpa in Kogi through the same route, heading to Makurdi with eight passengers on board and ran into the kidnappers who also abducted them at the same spot near Naka town in Gwer West.”
“The driver and the three passengers who were spared went to report at Naka police station and were asked to continue their journey, but we have yet to hear from them.
“Also, we have yet to get further information from those coming from Ankpa in Kogi State,” Onu added.
The Ter Tyorshin in Gwer West, His Royal Highness, Daniel Abomtse, also confirmed that two commercial vehicles were hijacked and passengers abducted on Naka/Adoka Road.
He disclosed that the incident happened just three kilometers to Naka town and promised to get the details later.
“Two vehicles were involved, a picnic bus and Sharon bus. The police just released the passengers that were not taken away,” he said.
However, the Benue State Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, is yet to confirm details of the abduction.