Terrorists ambushed a commercial bus along the Utonkon–Ojapo/Okpoga road in Benue State’s Okpokwu axis on Monday evening, February 10, 2026.
They killed two passengers instantly and abducted 14 others, leaving communities in panic.
The attackers struck around 7:00 p.m. The bus carried 16 passengers, mostly from Igede communities in Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, who traveled toward the Southwest.
Terrorists intercepted the vehicle, opened fire, and dragged victims away to unknown locations.
Jackson Ominyi, the local chairman, confirmed the assault and reported immediate mobilization of police, military personnel, and vigilante groups.
Authorities launched search operations, yet no rescue updates emerged by late evening.
The Benue State Police Command stayed silent on the incident hours after it occurred.
This attack follows a pattern of escalating violence.
Just two days earlier, on February 8, terrorists abducted nine worshippers during a night vigil at St. John’s Catholic Church in nearby Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area.
Residents now fear travel on major highways, as terrorists exploit poor surveillance and ongoing herder-farmer tensions.
Security experts urge federal authorities to deploy more personnel and intelligence resources to Benue highways.
They argue that persistent inaction allows terrorists to operate freely, deepening insecurity and disrupting daily life in the region.
Communities demand urgent action. Families of the abducted victims wait anxiously for news, while survivors recount the horror of the sudden assault.
Benue continues to grapple with waves of attacks that claim lives and displace thousands.
