A middle-aged man, Ortese Tarlumun Joseph, has been abducted by gunmen in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, after armed assailants opened fire on his family during a failed escape attempt.
The victim was reportedly attacked while returning from the farm with his wife and son on the evening of Friday, June 27, near Tomanyiin Main Village in Nzorov district.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who disclosed the development in a post on X, said the kidnappers emerged from a nearby bush and ordered the family to lie on the ground. Terrified, the family attempted to flee, prompting the attackers to fire two gunshots in their direction.
According to the victim’s wife, she later heard her husband’s voice calling for help but could no longer locate him as the assailants had already dragged him away into the forest.
The family’s Toyota Corolla vehicle was later recovered at the scene by local security operatives, who launched a search and rescue operation shortly after receiving the report.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the abductors nor their victim had been found, and the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping remain under investigation.
Residents of the area described the attack as yet another alarming reminder of the worsening security situation in Benue’s rural communities, where kidnappings for ransom and armed ambushes have become increasingly frequent.
Security forces are continuing search efforts, while family members appeal for urgent intervention from the state government and relevant security agencies.