A woman has reportedly been abducted after suspected armed herders attacked commuters along the Naka-Agagbe road near Agbanu village in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victim, identified as Mrs. Seember Kwaghbee, was said to be travelling to Naka when the attackers opened fire on commuters, forcing residents and travellers to flee the area. The incident occurred amid renewed concerns over attacks on rural roads and communities in Benue State.
Damian Kwaor of the Benue Motorcycle Association, Agbe branch, said the association received a distress report involving one of its members, Moses Tar, who was travelling from Agagbe to Naka with Kwaghbee as his passenger.
According to Kwaor, the motorcyclist later reunited with members of the association and narrated how he narrowly escaped.
“Our member told us that he managed to escape during the attack, but the woman he was carrying, one Mrs. Kwaghbee, was taken away by the gunmen. He also lost his motorcycle during the incident,” he said.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said commuters appeared to have unknowingly run into the gunmen, who had already mounted an operation along the road. The source said the rider abandoned his motorcycle and passenger while fleeing for safety, before later alerting security personnel.
Security operatives reportedly escorted the rider back to the scene, where the motorcycle was recovered. However, Kwaghbee was no longer there.
The source said attempts to reach her by phone confirmed fears that she had been abducted, as the attackers allegedly answered the call and said she was in their custody. Several other commuters were said to have sustained injuries, although no death was reported.
The attack comes amid persistent insecurity in Gwer West and surrounding areas. In February, at least six travellers were abducted along the Naka-Makurdi road, with local officials confirming that the victims were intercepted while travelling in a convoy. Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have also carried out recent operations in Gwer West, including the rescue of a kidnap victim and arrests of suspected kidnappers in the area.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had not yet received an official report on the latest incident.
Residents are urging security agencies to increase patrols along the Naka-Agagbe corridor and other vulnerable routes to prevent further attacks and secure the release of the abducted woman.
