In Nigeria Six Travellers Feared Abducted Along Benue Highway as Insecurity Deepens

February 17, 2026 l Dalena Reporters 

At least six travellers are feared to have been kidnapped by suspected terrorists along the Naka–Makurdi road in Benue State, amid a surge of violent attacks on commuters in the region. The incident, reported by local media on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, highlights growing concerns about banditry and insecurity on rural highways in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

According to initial reports, the travellers were intercepted by armed gunmen while journeying on the busy Naka–Makurdi corridor — a stretch that has seen frequent attacks on motorists and passengers. Eyewitnesses and local sources told journalists the assailants overpowered the victims and whisked them away into nearby bushland, prompting fears that the group remains in captivity.

No official information has yet been released by the Benue State Police Command or other security agencies regarding the identities of the abducted individuals, their condition, or ongoing rescue efforts. As with previous attacks in the state, residents expressed alarm at how quickly the gunmen were able to operate and disappear in areas where security coverage is perceived as thin.

The kidnapping comes amid a broader pattern of insecurity in Benue and neighbouring states, where travellers, worshippers and rural communities have been targeted by terrorist groups sometimes resulting in abductions, killings, and demand for ransom. Recent reports have also documented attacks on passengers and worshippers in other parts of the state, underscoring the persistence of banditry despite security responses.

Authorities have yet to issue a formal update on the incident, including whether any contact has been made with the abductors or what steps are being taken to secure the release of the missing travellers.

With transportation routes frequently exploited by armed groups, residents and civil society advocates have intensified calls for strengthened patrols, intelligence support, and community-level security measures to protect civilians and restore confidence in travel safety across the region.