Ten people were abducted at the border community of Jootar, located in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, on Friday, according to reports.
An anonymous source disclosed that the driver of the vehicle managed to escape the kidnapping and described the attack.
The source revealed that the driver of the Sharon bus picked up the passengers at Takum junction in Wukari, Taraba State, and there were a total of 10 passengers on board.
He said, “He was to drop them (passengers) in Gboko, where they ought to connect the vehicle to Akure.
“They took his phone. He had to use somebody’s phone to call me as soon as the incident happened. He is somebody I know very well.
“The incident happened around noon on Friday. That is what he told me. He picked them up from Takum, and the incident happened just 2 km from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA.”
The driver reportedly filed a complaint at the Jootar police station.
When reached for comment, Ezra Nyiyongo, the lawmaker for Ukum State Constituency in the State Assembly, confirmed that he had been informed of the incident.
He said, “I was told that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard since I am not the one who spoke with the driver, he said he picked those people from Wukari, Taraba State, and not in any school and was conveying them to Gboko.
“From Gboko, according to him, they were going to Akure for menial jobs. I am not quite sure. I am just reporting from the driver’s words. They were intercepted in Jootar in Ukum LGA.”
