By Jimmy Fatunbi
Several passengers, including candidates scheduled to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), were abducted by gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links, travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo, was ambushed. The vehicle, reportedly carrying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo at around 8 p.m., after which most of the occupants were forcefully taken into the bush by the attackers.
A source familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity, revealed that the passengers were largely young individuals heading to Otukpo to participate in the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday.
According to the source, two individuals — the driver and one passenger — managed to escape during the attack.
Confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, stated that 14 passengers were kidnapped, while one person escaped.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Thursday, the police commissioner said he was personally leading a coordinated rescue effort in Otukpo, alongside divisional police officers and other security personnel.
“I am currently in Otukpo with my team, coordinating operations in the bush to secure the release of the victims,” he said.
He explained that the bus was attacked by armed hoodlums en route to Otukpo, leading to the abduction of the passengers.
The commissioner further disclosed that investigations had commenced, particularly regarding the circumstances of the journey. He noted that Benue Links operates a policy prohibiting night travel, suggesting that the driver may have picked up passengers outside official hours.
“While the investigation continues, our priority remains the safe rescue of the victims,” he added.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, stating that security operatives had been deployed to the forest in search of the abducted passengers.
“It is a confirmed case. Security personnel have already been mobilised to the area to assist in rescue operations,” Ogiri said, noting that most of the victims were young students travelling to write the JAMB examination.
The Makurdi–Otukpo road has witnessed a series of attacks in recent months, raising growing concerns about the safety of commuters along the route.
