At least 10 passengers travelling in a Sharon bus from Taraba State have been allegedly kidnapped in Jootar axis, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Our correspondent gathered that the bus was conveying the passengers to Gboko area of the state en route to Akure in Ondo State when the gunmen intercepted them in Jootar, a Benue community bordering Taraba.
It was also learnt that the kidnapped victims are artisans and not students as being speculated.
A resident of the area told journalists in Makurdi that the driver of the vehicle explained that his bus was stopped by heavily armed gunmen who hijacked the bus and drove into the bush with 10 passengers.
The resident said, “It’s a Sharon bus. They took the driver’s phone. The incident happened around 12 midday on Friday. That is what the driver told me. He picked them from Takum in Taraba and the incident happened just 2km from there in Jootar. He was supposed to terminate the journey in Gboko as they (passengers) were en route to Akure.
Ezra Nyiyongo, a member of the House of Assembly representing Ukum State constituency also told journalists in Makurdi about the incident.
“According to what I heard since, the driver picked those people from Wukari, Taraba State and was conveying them to Gboko. From Gboko, they were going to Akure for menial jobs but I’m not quite sure. I’m just reporting from the driver’s words,” the lawmaker added.
But Chairman Ukum Local Government, Victor Iorzaa, told journalists that neither the chief security officer of the local government nor the Divisional Police Officer could confirm such incident.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Emmanuel Adesina, dismissed the rumour that some students in transit were abducted in Benue, adding that he was not aware of the kidnap.
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