Tension gripped Owukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday as youths took to the streets to protest the recent abduction of traders by suspected armed herdsmen. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when gunmen ambushed a Benue Links transport bus along the Owukpa–Orokam road, hijacking the vehicle and abducting several female passengers, both young and adult, who were returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers shot the driver and another passenger, causing the bus to veer off the road before kidnapping the remaining passengers. One woman, who sustained severe gunshot wounds, was left behind due to excessive bleeding and is currently receiving treatment at St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga.
Since the attack, the kidnappers have not contacted the families of the victims to make any demands. In response, angry youths blocked the Orokam-Owukpa-Okpoga road, demanding urgent action from the government and security agencies to rescue the abducted traders. The protest has left travelers stranded, as the demonstrators insisted that no one should enter or leave the community until the victims are rescued.
Community leaders and the local vigilante group have called for a stronger security presence in the area, describing the Owukpa–Orokam road as a long-standing danger zone with inadequate protection. Local security operatives are reportedly making efforts to secure the release of the abducted women, but as of Monday, there had been no breakthrough or official statement from the police.
The incident has heightened fears among residents and traders, with calls growing louder for the government to address the persistent insecurity affecting the region.
