THE Benue State Police Command has confirmed the hijack of a Benue Links passenger bus and abduction of its occupants by suspected gunmen along the Otukpo-Otukpa road on Sunday evening, June 22.
The Command, in a statement on Monday, June 23, by its Public Relations Officer, Edet Udeme, said the incident involved a Hummer bus with registration number 14B-143BN, which was found abandoned by the roadside in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu Local Council.
He stated that upon receiving the distress information, Police tactical teams, in collaboration with the military and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, swiftly mobilised to the scene, and while combing the surrounding forest, rescued one of the victims, identified as Paul Terns, who managed to escape from the abductors.
Udeme assured that additional reinforcements had been deployed to the area to intensify the search and rescue of the remaining passengers and ensure their safe return, urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Benue State and indeed its transport service, Benue Links, has experienced attacks in the past decade experienced incessant attacks.
In the latest incident, the abductors were said to have attacked the commercial bus about 6:30 pm, robbed the passengers and whisked them away into a bush following an ambush.
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