Driver Killed as Troops Foil Highway Kidnap Attempt in Benue

A driver has been killed after troops repelled an attempted kidnap along the Makurdi–Kura highway in Benue State.

The incident was first disclosed by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post on X on Thursday.

According to Makama, the attack occurred on Wednesday at about 6:30pm, when armed men barricaded the highway in a bid to abduct passengers in a commercial bus travelling ahead of a convoy of engineers en route from Kura to Makurdi.

Soldiers on routine patrol, positioned behind the engineers’ vehicle, quickly engaged the gunmen, forcing the suspected bandits to flee and scatter into nearby bushes.

Makama reported that during the gunfire exchange, the engineers’ driver, identified as Ochoche Otokolo Ekwu, was hit by a stray bullet and died instantly.

“During the gunfire exchange, the engineers’ driver identified as Ochoche Otokolo Ekwu was struck by a stray bullet and died instantly,” Makama wrote.

The Divisional Police Officer of Nigeria Police Force ‘D’ Division alongside tactical response teams, was said to have arrived at the scene shortly after the incident.

The victim’s body was evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Makurdi.

The Benue State Police Command and military authorities have intensified a manhunt, with security teams combing surrounding bushes to track fleeing suspects and forestall further attacks along the corridor.

Residents and road users have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements, as joint patrols and intelligence operations along the highway continue.