Gunmen in Military Uniforms Kidnap 15 Passengers, Kill One in Benue State

Armed men reportedly dressed in military uniforms have abducted at least 15 passengers and killed one person in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State. According to a report by the counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred on Sunday evening along the Oju-Ado-Ekiti route.

The gunmen intercepted a bus travelling from Oju LGA in Benue to Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. While the driver and eight passengers escaped, 15 others were taken into the bush. The divisional police officer in Okpokwu has mobilized patrol teams for a rescue operation. The Benue State Police Command spokesperson has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Key Points:

This incident directly endangers the lives and safety of the victims and their families, causing immediate trauma.
It disrupts interstate travel and commerce, instilling fear and limiting economic mobility in the region.
The victims suffer the primary loss, while communities along the route face heightened insecurity.
The assailants’ use of military uniforms points to a severe breakdown in security and erosion of public trust.
The attack underscores the persistent and brazen nature of kidnapping gangs, demanding urgent security intervention.

The priority remains the safe rescue of the abducted passengers as security forces pursue the perpetrators.

Sources: Zagazola Makama, The Cable