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Suspected gunmen have abducted six commuters along the Naka-Makurdi highway in Benue State in the early hours of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in yet another incident highlighting the persistent threat of banditry and kidnapping along major roads in the region.
The attack took place at Kula village, a short distance from Makurdi, the state capital, around 5 a.m. on the Naka-Makurdi stretch. According to accounts from a relative of one of the victims who spoke anonymously, the group of seven travellers had departed Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday and spent the night in Ankpa, Kogi State, before continuing their journey towards Makurdi early Tuesday morning.
The source explained that the travellers were travelling in a convoy when their vehicle was intercepted approximately 20 minutes outside Makurdi. One passenger reportedly escaped during the incident, while the remaining six—three men and three women—were forcibly taken away by the assailants.
The kidnappers have since contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for the release of the abducted persons.
The Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area, Omnin Torsar, confirmed the abduction, stating that the victims were part of a convoy that ran into bandits along the road. He described the incident as a targeted interception by armed groups operating in the area.
Efforts to obtain an official comment from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, indicated that no formal report had yet been received by the police at the time of inquiry.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of travellers on inter-state routes passing through Benue, particularly along highways connecting the North-Central region. Kidnappings for ransom have become alarmingly frequent on several federal and state roads in the state, often attributed to armed gangs taking advantage of security gaps, poor road lighting, and limited patrol presence in remote stretches.
Residents and commuters have repeatedly called for intensified security measures, including increased military and police checkpoints, enhanced surveillance, and proactive intelligence gathering to curb the activities of these criminal elements.
As families anxiously await news of their loved ones and negotiate with the kidnappers, the latest abduction serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to restore safety and confidence on Benue’s highways.
