From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani terrorists yesterday reportedly hijacked two commercial vehicles and kidnapped no fewer than 19 travellers along Adoka-Naka road in Gwer-west local government area of Benue State.
The Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW ) in charge of the High Level Unit, Yakubu Onu confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Makurdi.
According to him, two vehicles were involved in the incident.
He explained that the first vehicle loaded nine passengers from High Level Motor Park Makurdi and was heading to Lokoja before six passengers were abducted and taken to the bush, leaving three others behind.
He further said that the Second vehicle was coming from Ankpa to Makurdi with eight passengers on board and all the passengers were abducted at the same spot.
“The driver and the three passengers spared went to report at Naka police station and were asked to continue their journey, but we are yet to hear from them.
“Also, we are yet to get further information from those coming from Ankpa in Kogi State”, Onu stated.
The district head of Naka and Ter Toshi in Gwer-West, Chief Daniel Abomtse, also confirmed that two commercial vehicles were hijacked and passengers abducted on Naka/Adoka road.
He disclosed that the incident happened just three Kilometers to Naka town and promised to get the details later.
Effort to get the Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene for confirmation as at the time of filing this report proved abortive.
Relatedly, unidentified hoodlums have attacked and gruesomely murdered a youth mobilizer identified as Raphael Ikyav a.k.a ‘Spanar’ in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
DAILY ASSET gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday night at about 7:30 pm along Akpehe road in Makurdi.
An eye witness who spoke on condition of anonymity told DAILY ASSET in Makurdi on Thursday, that the victim was attacked in his shop and stabbed to death.
“The hoodlums trailed Ikyav to his shop last evening at about 7:30. He stabbed multiple times and left in a pool of blood before help could arrive, he died”,
When contacted, the Benue State command Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene confirmed the incident.
“Yes, the murder of the youth leader is confirmed please. Investigation is ongoing to unravel those behind the dastardly act”, Anene said.
Daily Asset
