Unidentified gunmen suspected to be herdsmen launched a deadly ambush along the Oweto-Apa-Adoka-Otukpo road in Benue State on Friday evening, leaving several commuters dead or kidnapped, according to multiple sources.
The brazen attack occurred between Asaba and Olojo, disrupting traffic and causing widespread panic across the region. Eyewitnesses and local sources told Hobnob News Nigeria that truck drivers and other travelers moving in both directions—Otukpo to Oweto and Oweto to Otukpo—fell victim to the ambush.
One particularly harrowing account involved a commercial motorcyclist, commonly referred to as an “Okada” rider, who was reportedly en route to Agatu with a casket strapped to his bike. He was gunned down, and his body left on the roadside alongside his motorcycle and the abandoned casket. Several trucks were also seen deserted at the scene.
A former chairman of Apa Local Government Area, Mr. John Ikwulono, confirmed the incident to Hobnob News Nigeria, stating that the full extent of casualties remains unknown.
“Aside from the guy who was killed by the roadside, we don’t know how many casualties at the moment,” Ikwulono said. “Gunshots were sporadic; I believe that was done to get down those who may be trying to escape.”
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to contact the Benue State Police spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone went unanswered.
The Oweto-Otukpo road is a vital corridor in Benue State, and the latest attack underscores growing concerns over the safety of commuters in the region, which has seen repeated security breaches in recent years.
Residents and local leaders are urging security agencies to intensify patrols and rescue operations in the affected area as anxiety mounts over the fate of the kidnapped victims.
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