Panic has gripped communities in Benue State following the reported abduction of passengers from a commercial bus allegedly hijacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen along the Eke axis of Okpokwu Local Government Area. The terrifying incident reportedly occurred Monday morning, sending shockwaves through residents of the area and travelers plying the route.
According to eyewitness accounts circulating on local WhatsApp groups and early reports from residents, the bus was fully loaded with commuters heading towards the Otukpo axis when it was intercepted near the Eke–Amejo road stretch. The assailants, believed to be armed, reportedly herded the passengers into a nearby forest.
Sources say the bus was later found abandoned by the roadside with personal items and footwear scattered, sparking fears of mass abduction. As of the time of this report, the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear, though locals estimate more than a dozen passengers may have been taken.
The Okpokwu–Eke road has recently become a flashpoint for rising insecurity, with multiple cases of kidnappings and attacks on commuters recorded in the past year. Residents say despite repeated pleas to state authorities, there has been little improvement in security patrols along the route.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command for official confirmation were still ongoing at press time. However, sources within the Okpokwu Vigilante Group confirmed they had mobilized and were combing the area with hopes of intercepting the attackers and rescuing the victims.
Community leaders are now calling on Governor Hyacinth Alia and security agencies to act urgently before the situation deteriorates further. “If this route is not secured immediately, we fear more lives will be lost or displaced,” a local chief told OtownGist.
As families await news of their loved ones, tension remains high in Okpokwu and surrounding LGAs, with transport unions now considering a temporary halt of commercial operations on the Eke route until safety can be guaranteed.
