Suspected gunmen have abducted several passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a Benue Links bus conveying about 18 passengers was reportedly intercepted near Otukpo. The victims were said to be mostly young students travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to sources, the attackers forced the passengers into the bush, while the driver and one passenger managed to escape.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, stated that 14 passengers were kidnapped, with one person escaping. He added that security operatives have launched a rescue operation and are currently combing the area.
Authorities also revealed that the transport company had a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly violated this directive by picking up passengers after official hours.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed that security personnel have been deployed to the forest to secure the release of the victims.
This incident adds to the growing security concerns along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, which has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months.
