Youths in Owukpa, located in the Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, took to the streets on Monday to protest the recent abduction of traders in their community.

Over the weekend, suspected armed men hijacked a Benue Links commercial vehicle and abducted several female passengers along the Owukpa–Orokam road.

The incident reportedly occurred around 7 p.m. near the Eyiupi community while the victims were returning from the Orba market in Enugu State to Owukpa. The attackers, believed to be armed herdsmen, ambushed the vehicle and took away both young and adult female passengers.

So far, the kidnappers have not contacted the victims' families or made any ransom demands.

In response, aggrieved youths blocked the Orokam-Owukpa-Okpoga road, demanding urgent action from the government to secure the release of the abductees.

The protest has caused significant disruption, with travelers from Enugu and neighboring communities stranded, as movement in and out of the area has been halted by the demonstrators.