Reports indicate that at least 15 individuals, including women and children, are unaccounted for following an attack on an 18-seater bus traveling from Zaki/Biam in Benue State to Maihura in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. The incident occurred on Tuesday along the Donga-Mararaban-Baissa road in Gankwe village, Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to Mr. Mpuuga Mbaave, the bus driver who narrowly escaped with machete wounds, the attackers, suspected to be vigilante personnel, ambushed the bus while it was en route. Mbaave recounted the harrowing experience, stating that upon noticing individuals dressed in vigilante uniform, he became suspicious and decided to stop the vehicle.
Mbaave explained, “As I moved closer, some of the Vigilante personnel started shouting, ‘kill all of them,’ ‘it’s their people (Tiv) that killed our members,’ and they started attacking the passengers and cutting them with machetes.”
Despite attempts to resist, Mbaave and his conductor were forced to flee for their lives, leaving behind the passengers who were subsequently ordered out of the bus and subjected to brutal attacks.
Confirming the incident, Hon. Ezra Voka, Chairman of Doonga Local Government Council, disclosed that he was actively involved in the search for the missing persons in the nearby forest. He expressed his inability to provide further details until more information was gathered from the ongoing search efforts.
The assault on the passenger bus has left a community in shock and distress as authorities intensify efforts to locate the missing individuals and apprehend those responsible for the heinous act.
