Ten individuals were reportedly abducted at the Taraba/Benue border community in Jootar, located in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday.

According to a source who wished to remain anonymous, the driver of the vehicle managed to escape the kidnapping and recounted the harrowing attack. The driver, who was behind the wheel of a Sharon bus, revealed that he had picked up the passengers at Takum junction in Wukari, Taraba State, with a total of 10 individuals on board.

The plan was for the passengers to be dropped off in Gboko, where they were supposed to connect to another vehicle heading to Akure. However, just 2 km away from Takum, in Jootar, Ukum LGA, the unthinkable happened. The driver’s phone was confiscated during the incident, forcing him to use someone else’s phone to contact a familiar contact.

The driver promptly reported the incident to the Jootar police station. Lawmaker Ezra Nyiyongo, representing Ukum State Constituency in the State Assembly, acknowledged receiving a similar report. According to him, the driver mentioned that the passengers were picked up in Wukari, Taraba State, and were en route to Gboko before heading to Akure for potential job opportunities.

Despite these reports, the Chairman of the LG, Victor Iorzaa, was unable to confirm the incident. Both the council’s Divisional Police Officer and Chief Security Officer claimed to be unaware of the situation. Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, stated that the command had no knowledge of the incident.

The circumstances surrounding the abduction remain unclear, with conflicting reports from various sources. The safety and well-being of the abducted individuals are of utmost concern, as authorities work to uncover the truth behind this alarming incident.