From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Gunmen, yet to be identified, have reportedly abducted eight people at Atamka in Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Daily Sun gathered that the incident happened between Saturday and Sunday when the gunmen laid ambush on people returning from church, along Atamka-Ugbudu road linking Obollo Afor in Enugu State.
Locals from the area said a security man was abducted on Saturday, adding that the other seven people were abducted on Sunday while returning from church. The locals identified some of the victims as Onyechi Onuh, John Ameh and Agnes Ikwuta.
Confirming the incident, a former chairman of the Ogbadibo LGA, Prince Samuel Onu, said there were two incidents of abduction in the area.
He said: “The first incident was on Saturday when a security guard was abducted at Atamka. On Sunday, some people, who were on okada and returning from church, were ambushed at the same place and taken away by the suspected kidnappers.
“The people actually waylaid eight people, but they discovered that one of their victims had a bad leg and could not walk normally, so they left him. In total, seven people were abducted on Sunday.”
The former chairman said security men were on the trail of the suspected kidnappers and making frantic efforts to rescue the victims.
At the time of filing this report, yesterday evening, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene, said she was yet to receive the report.