No fewer than ten people were reportedly kidnapped at the Taraba/Benue border community in Jootar, in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, on Friday.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the driver of the ill-fated vehicle who narrowly evaded kidnapping described the attack.
According to the source, the driver of the Sharon bus explained that he picked up the passengers at Takum Junction in Wukari, Taraba State, and that they numbered ten.
He said, “He was to drop them (passengers) in Gboko, where they ought to connect the vehicle to Akure.
“They took his phone. He had to use somebody’s phone to call me as soon as the incident happened. He is someone I know very well.
“The incident happened around noon on Friday. That is what he told me. He picked them up from Takum, and the incident happened just 2 km from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA.”
The driver was alleged to have reported the kidnap incident to the Jootar police station.
When contacted, Ezra Nyiyongo, the politician who represents Ukum State Constituency in the State Assembly, stated that he had received such a report.
He said, “I was told that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard since I am not the one who spoke with the driver, he said he picked those people from Wukari, Taraba State, and not in any school and was conveying them to Gboko.
“From Gboko, according to him, they were going to Akure for menial jobs. I am not quite sure. I am just reporting on the driver’s words. They were intercepted in Jootar in Ukum LGA.”
Meanwhile, the LG Chairman, Victor Iorzaa, stated that he could not corroborate the kidnap incident because neither the council’s Divisional Police Officer nor the local government’s Chief Security Officer claimed to have received the information.
Also, Emmanuel Adesina, the state commissioner of police, stated that the command was unaware of the occurrence.
