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Several passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, were abducted along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.
The attack occurred on Wednesday night as the victims, primarily young individuals headed for the JAMB exams, were travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo.
According to an anonymous source, the bus, carrying approximately 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 p.m. by suspected bandits, who took most of the passengers into the nearby bush. Only two passengers, the driver and one other individual, reportedly managed to escape.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the abduction, saying that 14 passengers were taken while one victim managed to escape. He spoke to PUNCH Online on Thursday, assuring that security forces had launched a rescue operation.
“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush, heading the operation,” Emenari said. He also highlighted that the Benue Links management had a policy against night travel, though the driver allegedly picked up passengers after hours, prompting further investigation.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, corroborated the incident and confirmed that security operatives had been deployed to the area for the rescue mission. Ogiri stressed that the victims were mainly young people headed to Otukpo for their JAMB exams.
The Makurdi-Otukpo road has witnessed repeated attacks by gunmen in recent months, adding to the growing concern about safety in the region.
