Herdsmen Attack Benue Road, Kidnap and Kill Commuters

Unidentified gunmen, believed to be herdsmen, launched a deadly attack along the Oweto-Apa-Adoka-Otukpo road in Benue State on Friday evening, abducting several travelers and leaving others dead.

The ambush occurred between Asaba and Olojo, disrupting traffic and instilling fear among commuters on the route. Victims of the attack reportedly included truck drivers and passengers traveling in both directions—Otukpo to Oweto and Oweto to Otukpo.

An eyewitness recounted a chilling incident involving a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an Okada rider, who was en route to Agatu with a casket. The rider was shot dead during the attack, leaving his motorcycle and the casket abandoned on the roadside alongside several other trucks.

Confirming the incident, a former chairman of Apa Local Government Area, John Ikwulono, told DAILY POST that while the full extent of casualties remains unclear, the violence was intense and indiscriminate.

“Other than the man found dead by the roadside, we are yet to confirm how many others were killed or abducted. The gunshots were sporadic—I believe they did that to prevent anyone from escaping,” Ikwulono stated.

Efforts to contact the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, for an official response were unsuccessful as she did not respond to multiple calls at the time of filing this report.