JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap six passengers in Benue

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Gunmen have kidnapped six passengers from a vehicle travelling along the Ogobia-Adoka road in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

Locals said that the incident happened at the weekend when the gunmen intercepted the passengers’ vehicle and took the occupants away.

At the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the occupants are still unknown.

Some of the locals alleged that the driver was killed after the kidnappers forced the vehicle to skid off the road into a nearby bush. They were said to have taken the passengers after the vehicle came to a halt.

Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Omakwu, confirmed the incident. He said the incident happened two days ago.

He also stated that he does not know the exact number of people were kidnapped since he doesn’t know the number of people travelling in the vehicle.

“But we assumed that, given the capacity of the vehicle, six persons could have been involved and taken away by the abductors.

“As at now, I don’t have any information whether they have been released or not. There were, however, speculations that the abductors had opened talks with the victims’ families,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue command, DSP Edet Udeme, told our correspondent that she would get back with details.