BREAKING: Gunmen abduct JAMB candidates, other passengers on Benue highway

Gunmen have abducted several 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 came under attack on Wednesday night.

A source said the bus, carrying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo at about 8 p.m. by suspected bandits, who whisked most of the occupants into the bush.

According to the source, many of the passengers were young candidates travelling to Otukpo to sit for the examination organised by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on 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,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted while one victim escaped.

He added that he was personally in Otukpo coordinating the rescue mission alongside divisional police officers and tactical teams.

“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 commissioner also disclosed that an investigation had commenced, especially regarding the circumstances of the journey.

According to him, the transport company has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the attack, saying security operatives had been deployed into the forest to rescue the victims.

The Makurdi–Otukpo road has witnessed repeated attacks and abductions in recent months, raising renewed concerns over safety on the route.