Ten individuals were reportedly abducted at the Taraba/Benue border community of Jootar, located in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday.
According to a source who preferred anonymity, the driver of the targeted vehicle managed to escape the abduction and recounted the harrowing experience.
The source disclosed that the driver, operating a Sharon bus, had picked up the passengers at the Takum junction in Wukari, Taraba State, and there were 10 passengers onboard.
“They confiscated his phone, forcing him to borrow someone else’s phone to contact me immediately after the incident. He is someone I am familiar with,” the source stated.
The incident occurred around noon on Friday, just 2 kilometers from Jootar, Ukum LGA, after departing from Takum, Taraba State.
The driver promptly reported the abduction at the Jootar police station.
Confirming the incident, Ukum State Constituency lawmaker, Ezra Nyiyongo, acknowledged receiving a report about the abduction. He relayed that the driver claimed to have picked up the passengers from Wukari, Taraba State, en route to Gboko.
“I heard that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard, since I didn’t speak with the driver directly, he mentioned picking up the passengers from Wukari, Taraba State, not from any school, and was transporting them to Gboko. From Gboko, they were allegedly heading to Akure for casual jobs. I am not entirely certain; I am merely relaying the driver’s account. They were intercepted in Jootar, Ukum LGA,” Nyiyongo explained.
However, both the council Divisional Police Officer and the Chief Security Officer of the local government stated they were unaware of the incident, as per the Chairman of the LG, Victor Iorzaa.
Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, confirmed that the command had not received any information regarding the abduction.
