Gunmen, suspected to be bandits, have attacked a Benue State Government-owned bus, leaving three passengers injured in a shooting incident along the Gboko–Otukpo route.

The attack occurred on Saturday night, January 10, 2026, a few kilometres outside Otukpo town, as the bus, operated by Benue Links Nigeria Limited, was en route to lodge overnight in Otukpo before continuing to Lagos.

Confirming the incident, Johnson Ehi Daniel, Information Officer of Benue Links, said the bus with registration PP974 came under fire around 7:00 pm at the Burnt Bricks area of Otukpo.

“Three passengers sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo. Thankfully, no lives were lost,” Daniel stated. He added that the victims are responding positively to treatment.

The company’s General Manager, Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa, and Business Manager, Edache Joseph, visited the injured passengers at the hospital, pledging to cover all medical costs and provide both logistical and emotional support.

Following the hospital visit, Fanafa met with officers at the Otukpo Police Station, commending their prompt response to the distress calls and urging continued vigilance against criminal activities.

In a statement to drivers at the Otukpo Motor Park, Fanafa reiterated the company’s ban on night journeys, warning that violators would face disciplinary action.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of passengers on Benue State roads, amid a series of attacks on commercial vehicles in the region.