Suspected gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.The victims were reportedly travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night. The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., when armed assailants intercepted the bus and forced several occupants into the bush.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed that the vehicle was conveying about 18 passengers, most of them young people heading to Otukpo to sit for the examination scheduled for Thursday.“Two people, the driver and one passenger, managed to escape. Incidentally, the passengers were mainly young men and women who travelled to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for today (Thursday),” the source said.
Confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, stated that 14 passengers were abducted, while one victim escaped.“What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums and 14 passengers were kidnapped but one was able to escape,” he said.
The police chief added that he was personally coordinating rescue efforts in the area, noting that security operatives had launched a search operation to secure the release of the victims.“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and am heading the operation,” he said. Emenari further disclosed that an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly as the transport company reportedly has a policy against night travel.
He noted that the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours. Also confirming the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said security personnel had been deployed to the forest to aid rescue efforts.
“It is true… security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims. The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB,” he said. The attack adds to growing security concerns along the Makurdi–Otukpo corridor, which has witnessed repeated incidents of armed attacks in recent months.
