BY IBRAHIM ABDULHAMID, MARCH 13, 2024 | 12:26 PM
Donga, Taraba State - At least 15 individuals, including women and children, are missing following an attack on a passenger bus by armed men suspected to be vigilantes.
The incident occurred on Tuesday near Gankwe village, along the Donga-Mararaban-Baissa road.
According to the bus driver, Mr. Mpuuga Mbaave, who was quoted by THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER and who sustained machete injuries, the attackers were dressed in vigilante uniforms.
Mbaave narrated that after noticing a large group of armed individuals, he initially stopped the bus due to suspicion.
'I loaded 18 passengers from Zaki/Biam in Benue State to Maihura in Taraba state, and on our way close to Mararaba, I saw many people in Vigilante uniform. I suspected something was wrong, so I parked the vehicle,' he was quoted by the paper.
A villager reportedly advised him to continue the journey, claiming the armed group was retrieving the bodies of slain vigilantes killed by kidnappers.
However, upon approaching the group, Mbaave recounted hearing shouts of "kill them all" and witnessing passengers being assaulted with machetes.
He stated that he and the bus conductor fled the scene while being pursued with machetes.
He confirmed sustaining injuries but is currently out of danger.
Search efforts underway:
Hon. Ezra Voka, Chairman of Donga Local Government Council, confirmed ongoing search operations in nearby areas for the missing individuals.
Authorities haven't yet released an official statement regarding the incident or the extent of the search efforts.
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