Ten individuals were allegedly taken hostage at the Taraba/Benue border community in Jootar, located in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday.
An undisclosed source clarified that the driver of the unfortunate vehicle, who managed to avoid being kidnapped, recounted the assault.
The source noted that the driver of the Sharon bus explained that he picked up the passengers at Takum junction in Wukari, Taraba State and that there were 10 of them.
He shared, “He was supposed to drop them (passengers) in Gboko where they were supposed to catch the vehicle to Akure.
“They confiscated his phone. He had to borrow someone’s phone to call me right after the incident. He is someone I am very familiar with.
“The incident occurred around noon on Friday. That's what he told me. He picked them up from Takum, and the incident occurred just 2 km from there in Jootar, Ukum LGA.”
The driver reportedly filed a case at the Jootar police station.
Upon reaching out, the legislator representing Ukum State Constituency in the State Assembly, Ezra Nyiyongo, confirmed receiving such a report.
He mentioned, “I was informed that a vehicle was intercepted. According to what I heard, since I did not speak with the driver myself, he said he picked up those people from Wukari, Taraba State, not from any school, and was transporting them to Gboko.
“From Gboko, as he stated, they were heading to Akure for menial jobs. I am not entirely sure. I am just relaying the driver’s account. They were intercepted in Jootar in Ukum LGA.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the LG, Victor Iorzaa, indicated he could not verify the incident, expressing that both the council Divisional Police Officer and the Chief Security Officer of the local government denied having the report.
Furthermore, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, mentioned that the command was not informed about the incident.
