WUKARI, Nigeria (BN24) — A 38-year-old lecturer at Taraba State University, Engineer Joshua Saleh, was abducted Thursday evening by gunmen along the Chinkai–Kente–Wukari highway in southern Taraba State, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. between the Janda-Ikula and Ikyior communities in Wukari Local Government Area. Saleh was reportedly traveling in a private vehicle with another passenger, identified as 42-year-old businessman Emmanuel Haggai Bibinu, when they came under attack.
Bibinu, a member of the Ichen ethnic group, told police that four armed men emerged from the roadside and opened fire, targeting the front tires of their vehicle to force it to a halt. The assailants were armed with a firearm and three machetes, he said.
After disabling the vehicle, the attackers robbed the occupants of their belongings, including a Samsung Galaxy G10 smartphone valued at N1.7 million and N83,000 in cash, before marching both men into the nearby bush.
Bibinu managed to escape during the ordeal and fled to Ikyior village, where he encountered a local hunter. The hunter assisted him in reaching a police station to report the abduction.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the whereabouts of Saleh remain unknown. Security forces are working in coordination with local vigilantes to locate the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
The abduction underscores the growing security concerns along the Abuja–Jalingo route and highlights the persistent threat posed by armed groups in Taraba and other parts of northeastern Nigeria.
Credit: Punching.com
