Gunmen Abduct Church Members on Makurdi–Naka Road in Benue

Armed men suspected to be herders abducted several members of the Chosen Church along the Makurdi–Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday evening. The attack took place around 7:00 p.m. near Tyolaha village as worshippers were returning from Makurdi to Naka in a bus.

According to police reports, the assailants suddenly emerged and blocked the highway at gunpoint. While two other buses managed to reverse and escape, an unspecified number of passengers from the attacked bus were forced into the bush. The bus driver, identified as 52-year-old Ogijo Jibrin, along with seven passengers, escaped and later alerted security agencies.

Troops of Operation Whirlstroke and police personnel from Naka swiftly responded, rescuing Jibrin and the seven survivors. A joint operation has since been launched to track down the abductors and secure the release of the remaining victims.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed that the Commissioner of Police has deployed additional reinforcements, including operatives from the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Operation Zenda, the State Intelligence Bureau, and the Police Mobile Force. The command stated that bush combing operations are underway while the Criminal Investigation Department has opened a full investigation into the attack.