Driver shot, three passengers kidnapped in Otukpo-Oweto highway

Three travellers heading from Enugu to Abuja were reportedly kidnapped by suspected gunmen along the Otukpo-Oweto Highway in Benue State on Saturday night.

The incident occurred around 9:30 pm at Oglewu in Ohimini Local Government Area, when the attackers reportedly intercepted the commercial vehicle.

A source familiar with the incident told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Sunday that the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, shooting the driver and abducting three passengers.

The source, who requested anonymity, said one of the passengers reportedly escaped but was later found.

“Some gunmen intercepted a commercial bus travelling to Abuja along Otukpo-Oweto Highway Saturday night.

“The incident occurred on Saturday at about 9:25 pm when certain persons were said to be travelling from Enugu and intercepted as the driver of the vehicle was shot, three passengers kidnapped, one allegedly escaped but later found,” the source said.

Confirming the incident on Sunday night, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the driver was receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo.

He disclosed that three victims were kidnapped while three others were rescued.

“Three persons were kidnapped during the incident and three rescued, the driver who was shot is receiving treatment at Teaching Hospital, Otukpo,” Aondongu said.

The Otukpo-Oweto Highway has witnessed repeated cases of kidnapping, raising concerns over the security of motorists using the route.

In a similar incident the previous week, six people conveying the corpse of a woman were reportedly abducted along the highway.

The victims were said to have regained their freedom a few days later following the payment of a N2.5 million ransom..