A commercial driver, Ochoche Otokolo Ekwu, d!ed after being struck by a stray bullet during an attempted kidnapping along the Makurdi–Kura road in Benue State.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 when a group of engineers travelling from Kura to Makurdi encountered armed men who had blocked the road, intending to abduct passengers in a bus ahead of them.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, soldiers on routine patrol were behind the engineers’ vehicle and immediately engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing the assailants to flee into the bush.
During the exchange of fire, Ekwu, the driver of the engineers’ vehicle, was hit by a stray bullet and d!ed on the spot.
The Divisional Police Officer of ‘D’ Division mobilised a patrol team alongside tactical units to the scene, where the corpse was evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Makurdi.
Security operatives are currently combing nearby bushes to track the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks along the route.
