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Benue State continues to grapple with escalating insecurity as another violent incident has claimed the life of a young resident and left communities in deep mourning. A passenger from Obegede, Oboru in Oju Local Government Area, was among those attacked on a commercial vehicle traveling along the Utokon–Ojapo/Okpoga Road.
The assault, which occurred around 7 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, targeted a bus carrying Igede-speaking passengers from the Igede axis of Oju and Obi Local Government Areas, en route to destinations in the South-West. Reports indicate that suspected gunmen ambushed the vehicle, resulting in fatalities and abductions. While broader accounts from the incident confirm two passengers were killed and 14 others abducted, the specific loss highlighted in local outcries is that of a brother from Obegegede, whose journey ended in tragedy.
The post from ThankGod’s Official, shared widely on social media, expressed profound grief over the young life cut short. “What was meant to be a simple journey turned into tragedy,” it read, lamenting a family shattered, a community in tears, and ongoing bloodshed in Benue. The message emphasized that this is not politics or rumor, but real loss: “This is blood.” It called for justice to speak louder than tears and questioned how long the state and its people would continue to mourn and suffer on their own land.
The road in question, linking areas between Ado and Okpokwu Local Government Areas, has become notorious for such ambushes, with passengers often departing from markets like Iheijwo in Oju LGA before falling victim to attackers who force victims into the bush. Authorities, including the Benue State Police Command, have confirmed aspects of the attack, noting the interception of the vehicle and the immediate violence when the driver resisted stopping.
This incident follows closely on the heels of other abductions in the region, including nine worshippers taken from a church vigil in Utonkon, heightening fears among residents. The emotional appeal underscored a growing cry against persistent insecurity: “How long will Benue keep mourning? How long will our people keep dying on their own land?”
As the family and community of the deceased mourn, calls for swift security interventions and justice grow louder. The victim’s soul is remembered in prayers for peace, while demands for an end to the cycle of violence echo across the affected areas, with hashtags like #BenueIsBleeding, #JusticeForOurBrother, and #EndInsecurityNow trending in solidarity.
