Nine people, including the driver of a Benue State-owned transport bus, were abducted on Saturday evening by armed men along the Owukpa–Orokam road in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, prompting renewed concerns over safety on rural routes in the state.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack occurred around 7 p.m. as the bus was returning from Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa.

A resident, Grace Ogwuche, who spoke to reporters on Sunday, said the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, injuring the driver and one passenger.

“They shot the driver and one other person, causing the vehicle to lose control and veer off the road. The other passengers were later kidnapped,” Ogwuche said.

She called on the local government chairman to work with security agencies for the prompt rescue of the abducted victims.

One of the passengers, who suffered severe gunshot wounds, was reportedly left at the scene due to excessive bleeding. He is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area.

The leader of the Owukpa vigilante group, Amos Agada, confirmed the incident, stating that no contact had yet been made by the kidnappers.

He noted that local security teams had begun mobilising efforts to trace and rescue the missing individuals.