Terrorists struck again in Benue State on Monday evening, ambushing a commercial passenger vehicle along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga road in the Okpokwu axis, killing two people and abducting 14 others in a brazen display of insecurity plaguing the region.
The attack occurred around 7:00 p.m. as the victims, mostly travellers from the Igede-speaking areas of Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, were heading toward the South-West in a commercial bus.
Eyewitness accounts and local sources indicate that the terrorists intercepted the vehicle, opened fire indiscriminately, and shot dead two passengers on the spot before forcing 14 others into the nearby bush.
The incident marks yet another escalation in the wave of terrorist activities terrorizing Benue communities.
It comes less than 48 hours after a separate attack where terrorists abducted nine worshippers during a night vigil at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ojije, Utonkon District, Ado Local Government Area.
Jackson Ominyi, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, confirmed the roadside ambush to journalists, describing it as a devastating blow to commuters who use the route regularly.
He said security agencies, including state tactical teams, have been alerted and are mobilizing to track the terrorists and secure the release of the abducted victims.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Benue State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, though sources close to the command confirmed that joint operations involving police, military, and local vigilantes were underway in the Okpokwu axis to pursue the perpetrators.
This latest attack has heightened fears among residents and travellers in Benue’s southern senatorial zone, where major highways remain vulnerable to terrorist ambushes.
Commuters have increasingly avoided night travel on rural roads due to the persistent threat of abductions for ransom and indiscriminate killings.
Benue State has witnessed a surge in terrorist violence in recent weeks, including deadly raids on markets and communities in Kwande and other areas that left dozens dead.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has repeatedly condemned such acts and ordered intensified security deployments, but critics argue that more decisive action is needed to restore safety on the state’s roads and rural communities.
Security experts have called for enhanced surveillance, better intelligence sharing, and sustained military presence along key transit routes to prevent further terrorist incursions.
For now, families of the abducted 14 travellers wait anxiously for news of their loved ones’ safe return, as the search continues amid growing calls for urgent federal intervention to stem the tide of terrorism in the Middle Belt.
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