Tension as a 7-passenger commercial vehicle disappears; boss of the LG Council, PA, orderly, and driver abducted

A Peugeot commercial waggon carrying seven people vanished, and as a result, tension is rising in Gaambe-Tiev, the Logo Local Government area of Benue State.

According to The Nation, the sad incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Mbavuur, along the Ugba-Anyiin road in the Logo Local Government Area.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) organising secretary Chief Job Tiza was one of the occupants in the missing commercial vehicle.

The commercial vehicle loaded from Ugba, the headquarters of Logo Local Government Area, with seven passengers heading to Anyiin town, according to an eyewitness, Charles Gbor, a former chairman of the Logo Local Government Council, who spoke with The Nation over the phone.

“The trip went well until they arrived in Mbavuur, where thieves attacked the car and its occupants,” the man said.

Two other community members provided differing versions of what happened. While some said that the ex-PDP organising secretary, Chief Job Tiza, was among the passengers taken away in the vehicle along with other people, another said that the thugs only took Job Tiza and another passenger named Ormough.

However, it was revealed that Ormough was freed after three days with the thugs. “When we asked him where the other people were, he merely responded that ‘they are there’. There was no precise location he could tell them. One resident who wished to remain anonymous stated, “It’s possible that the kidnappers had threatened him not to reveal the location of the others.”

Inquiries about the development have persisted in the community as individuals have been wondering how a vehicle with seven passengers could disappear within a farming community without any trace.

One of the concerned residents, Tyover Unande, expressed deep shock about the incident.

“Do you mean all the passengers, including the driver, are gone in this village without a trace even the owner of the vehicles has not come out to raise the alarm over his missing vehicle?,” Tyover asked rhetorically.

Another indigene, Peter Nomor said: “It remains a mystery how hoodlums can successfully mount road block, hijack a vehicle with passengers and make away with them. Four days after, there is still no information from police and community leaders. The council chairman has kept sealed lips in spite of the fact that he hails from Gaambe tiev, the troubled area which has been under sustained herdsmen attack for 11 years.

Benue State Police command was yet to respond to our inquiry on the incident as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, a similar incident was recorded in Ukum Local Government Area of the state where the chairman, Rev. Gideon Haanongu was abducted by gunmen yesterday.

The council boss was kidnapped alongside his Personal Assistant on Administration, Mr. Yuhwam Silas, his driver and orderly.

The unfortunate incident took place at about 6:30 am, along Zakibiam – Katsina Ala road at Tongov community in Katsina-Ala LGA, of Benue State.

A statement signed by the Secretary, Ukum Local Government Council, Hon Johnathan Modi, said the chairman was on his way to the burial of a second class monarch, Chief Fezanga Wombo, who was the father of the House of Representatives member, representing Logo,- Ukum Katsina Ala Federal Constituency, Hon. Solomon Wombo when the incident occured.

Hon. Modi called for calm saying measures were being taken to secure the release of the council chairman.

Police spokesperson, Kate Aneene, an SP, said she was yet to be briefed on the incident.