Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted ten people who were reportedly kidnapped at Jootar community in Ukum local government area of Benue State.
A resident of the area who pleaded not to be mentioned, said that the driver of the ill-fated vehicle was traveling with passengers from Wukari in Taraba State before the vehicle was intercepted by gunmen at Jootar in Ukum LGA in Benue State.
The source quoted the driver saying “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 somebody I know very well.
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“The incident happened around 12 noon on Friday, that is what he told me. He picked them from Takum and the incident happened just 2 km from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA,” he added.
The driver was said to have reported the case at Jootar police station.
When contacted, the lawmaker who represents Ukum State Constituency in the State Assembly, Ezra Nyiyongo said he received such a report.
He said, “I was told that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard since I’m not the one that 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. Am just reporting from the driver’s words. They were intercepted in Jootar, in Ukum LGA.”
But the Chairman of the LG, Victor Iorzaa said he could not confirm the incident, explaining that neither the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in the council nor the Chief Security Officer of the local government claimed not to have the report.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Emmanuel Adesina said the command was not aware of the incident.
