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The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three passengers and the shooting of a driver during an attack on a vehicle at Ijami village, Oglewu, in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred at about 9:25pm on Saturday when seven people travelling from Enugu to Abuja came under attack shortly after passing Otukpo.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said armed men intercepted the vehicle, shot the driver and took three passengers into a nearby forest.
He said the remaining three passengers escaped from the attackers and were later confirmed safe.
“They were coming from Enugu and heading to Abuja on Saturday. At about 9:25pm, they got to a place called Ijami after Otukpo, under Oglewu. They were seven persons in the vehicle. The vehicle was attacked and the driver was shot.
“He is in critical condition and currently receiving treatment in a hospital. Three of the passengers were taken into the forest by the armed men, while three of the passengers managed to escape. They have been seen and are in safe condition,” the eyewitness said.
The driver was taken to the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo for medical attention, while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the abducted passengers.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue, DSP Peter Aondongu, said three of the seven occupants escaped, while the kidnappers took the other three away.
He added that the police were working to secure the victims’ release and urged motorists to avoid travelling at night.
“The victims were seven in number, three were rescued while three others are with the kidnappers. The driver was shot and he is receiving treatment at Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.
“While efforts are on to secure the release of the other three, we urge the commuters to avoid night travels. Whenever it is night, look for somewhere and pass the night. The Commissioner had issued that advice and we expect that people, for their own safety, desist from night travels,” Aondongu said.
The eyewitness also raised concerns about repeated attacks along the route, warning that the poor condition of some roads made it easier for armed men to stop vehicles and abduct passengers.
He advised travellers to spend the night in Otukpo rather than continue their journeys after dark.
“We will continue to appeal to people to avoid these routes when night falls. Some of these roads are in deplorable condition, which makes it easy for the criminals to stop the vehicles and take away their victims.
“We appeal that wherever you are coming from, pass the night in Otukpo and continue your trip the next day and be safe, rather than end up in the hands of armed men who will subject your family to unimaginable trauma to raise ransom money,” he said.
The latest attack occurred days after another kidnapping along the same route, involving a man and five of his friends who were travelling with the remains of his late wife from Kano to neighbouring Okpokwu Local Government Area for burial.
During that incident, the kidnappers reportedly abandoned the woman’s corpse on the highway before taking her husband and his companions into the forest. They were later released after a ransom was paid.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a reaction from the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls placed to his telephone.
