Vehicular movement came to a halt along the Adoka-Otukpo road in Benue State on Thursday evening as tanker drivers staged a protest over the alleged actions of police officers conducting a stop-and-search operation.

According to eyewitness Tahir Ahmed, the incident began around 2:20 p.m. when a truck transporting cattle veered off the road and toppled into a ditch while trying to avoid a police barricade.

"The vehicle I was in had just overtaken the truck when a policeman suddenly rolled a spiked tree trunk into the road in an attempt to stop the trailer," Ahmed recounted.

"To avoid a collision with the truck ahead, the cattle-laden trailer swerved and fell sideways into the ditch, resulting in the death of several cows. Fortunately, some young men riding atop the truck escaped injury. However, they managed to seize one of the five policemen at the checkpoint, while the others fled."

Local residents raised concerns that the situation could escalate if not swiftly addressed. They feared that the police might return with reinforcements to remove the blockade and rescue their detained colleague, who was reportedly being held by the truck crew.

A resident, identified as Ameh, warned of potential unrest if the matter is mishandled.

"Some of the surviving cows have strayed into a nearby rice farm and begun grazing. The farm owner is unlikely to tolerate such destruction when he discovers what has happened," he said.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls to the spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, went unanswered.