Gunmen Kidnap 26 Youths In Taraba

No fewer than 26 youths from Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State were, last Wednesday, abducted by gunmen along Wukari-Takum Road.

A source in Takum told newsmen that the youths who were between 18 and 22, were returning from a wedding programme in Wukari in a Toyota Hummer bus at about 8.30am when they ran into a group of gunmen between Chechenji and Kofai Ahmadu villages.

It was gathered that the gunmen hijacked the vehicle the youths were travelling with, and drove the 26 passengers, including the driver of the bus, to an unknown destination.

It was further gathered that the gunmen drove from Kofai Ahmadu village in Taraba and headed for Benue axis.

According to sources, all accusing fingers are being pointed at the notorious ‘Ghana Boys’ said to have been flushed out of Benue due to activities of operation Whirl Stroke going on in Benue State.

When contacted, the Taraba State Police Command spokesman, DSP David Misal, confirmed the incident.

Misal said the police received a report that the 26 persons were missing.

He said the police were yet to establish whether it was a case of kidnap, adding that the police have commenced investigation into the matter.

The PPRO further disclosed that there was no communication between the criminals and either the relations of the victims or the police since their disappearance on Wednesday morning.