Otukpo, Benue State –Gunmen on Thursday night attacked a Benue Links commercial bus in the Ikobi area of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board. A toddler was reportedly spared during the assault.
According to eyewitness accounts, the armed assailants ambushed the vehicle along a highway, shooting the driver on sight before herding the passengers into the nearby bush. The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, left behind a young child, the only individual not taken during the raid.
While an official statement from the authorities is yet to be released, security agencies have reportedly launched an operation to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The latest incident has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, particularly from the Ochetoha K’Idoma Youth Wing. Its president, Mike Magaji, condemned what he described as the government’s lack of urgency in addressing the persistent insecurity plaguing the region.
“Our people live in constant fear, and yet we hear nothing concrete from those in power,” Magaji said. “The governor’s recent visit to Otukpo offered no real reassurance. We need action, not empty words.”
Magaji stressed the need for a comprehensive security strategy, warning that the frequent attacks are causing growing disillusionment among residents.
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Benue State has continued to grapple with escalating violence linked to armed groups, including kidnappers and suspected herders. The wave of insecurity is not limited to Benue; similar attacks have been recorded in states like Enugu and Ondo that resulted to protest, and Plateau, fueling nationwide concerns over safety and governance.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant as efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped passengers continue
