Members of the Benue Buffalos Handball Team are calling for justice and stronger protection for athletes after suffering a violent attack by armed men along the Otukpo Road on Thursday, December 7. The team, which was returning from Lagos after participating in the Ardova Premier Handball League, was ambushed shortly after midnight by criminals armed with guns and machetes.
The players, who represent Benue State in national competitions, described the experience as one of the most frightening moments of their careers. They said the attack not only left them traumatised but also resulted in the loss of valuable items and sensitive personal belongings.
According to eyewitness accounts, the team bus ran into the ambush moments after passing Otukpo, a busy town in Benue South known for its heavy traffic during the day and security challenges at night. Criminal gangs have been known to operate along the Otukpo–Makurdi corridor, targeting travellers, traders and transporters.
One of the players who spoke about the incident said the attackers emerged suddenly from the darkness. “The moment our driver opened the door, one of them stabbed him in the leg,” the player recounted. He said the criminals ordered the driver and players to lie face down on the ground while they searched them one by one.
The attackers reportedly fired several shots into the air to force the bus to stop before ordering the victims into a nearby bush path. “Everyone feared for their lives,” the player said.
The armed men stole everything they could find. Items taken included mobile phones, cash, sports footwear, jerseys, sports bags and a JBL music player. Some of the stolen devices contained important personal and official information belonging to both players and team staff.
The loss of jerseys and sports equipment is especially painful for the team, which often struggles to get adequate training materials. Handball teams, like many non-football sports in Nigeria, receive limited funding, making stolen equipment difficult to replace.
The victims said soldiers arrived at the scene while the robbery was still ongoing. Their sudden appearance forced the attackers to flee into the surrounding bushes, leaving the players shaken but alive. However, because the area is heavily forested and visibility was poor at night, the armed men escaped with all the stolen property.
“If not for the quick arrival of the soldiers, we don’t know what else could have happened,” a team member said. “But since it was night and the area was bushy, the robbers escaped with everything.”
The players said the soldiers helped escort them out of the area, but many are still dealing with shock and fear. Some sustained minor injuries, while the driver is recovering from the stab wound inflicted during the attack.
The Benue Buffalos team has urged the Benue State Government and security agencies to urgently investigate the incident and bring the attackers to justice. They also appealed for help in recovering their stolen items, including phones that contain important data.
“We are the official Benue State Handball Team representing the state at the national level,” one of the athletes said. “We are begging the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and help us recover our belongings.”
The team highlighted that they play a key role in promoting sports development and projecting the image of Benue State at national competitions. They said it was disappointing that despite their dedication, they continue to travel without adequate security.
The players also highlighted that the affected team is made up of individuals from different backgrounds, including students, civil servants, sports council staff and a serving corps member. Many of them lost not only their phones but also cash, identity cards, ATM cards and personal documents.
These losses have put them under financial and emotional strain. For students and corps members, replacing stolen gadgets will be difficult. Some said the stolen devices contained school work, personal records and work-related information.
“We’ve suffered quietly for too long. Sportsmen, especially those outside football, deserve better,” a spokesperson said. “We need protection. If we can represent the state with pride, then the state should protect us.”
The attack on the Benue handball team reflects the increasing insecurity on highways across Nigeria. Travel at night has become risky in many states due to incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping and bandit attacks. Roads in the North-Central region, including areas around Otukpo, Makurdi and parts of Nasarawa, have seen repeated criminal activities.
Transporters often warn commuters against late-night travel, especially on roads surrounded by bushy or forested areas. Security agencies, despite several operations, have not been able to completely eliminate the threat.
The Benue sports community expressed concern that if athletes cannot travel safely for competitions, the development of sports in the state will continue to suffer. Many national leagues and tournaments require teams to travel long distances by road, increasing their exposure to danger.
Members of the Nigerian handball community have condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Benue Buffalos. Coaches and players from other states described the incident as “shocking” and “disheartening,” calling on the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) to work with state governments to improve travel safety for national teams.
They noted that handball players, unlike professional footballers, often travel without escorts or special security arrangements. The attack, they said, should be a wake-up call for authorities to provide better protection for sports delegations.
As of press time, neither the Benue State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, sources within the state’s sports council said efforts were underway to compile a full report for the government.
Players say they are waiting anxiously for the authorities to take action. They want the state government to publicly condemn the attack and provide support to the victims, including replacing stolen equipment and offering psychological assistance for traumatized team members.
What should have been a routine journey home after a major national competition turned into a night of fear for athletes who had spent days representing their state on the national stage. Instead of returning with memories of the Ardova Premier Handball League, the Benue Buffalos now carry the trauma of a violent attack.
