No fewer than 14 passengers, many believed to be candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), have been reportedly abducted by armed men along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
The victims were said to be travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday evening for their scheduled examination when the attack occurred.
The vehicle involved, an 18-seater bus belonging to Benue Links, was ambushed a few kilometres from Otukpo town at about 7 p.m.
A local source disclosed that the attackers intercepted the bus and forced the passengers into a nearby forest.
“The passengers were all marched into the forest. From what we gathered, most of them were students coming to Otukpo to write JAMB,” the source said.
According to the source, the bus was fully occupied at the time of the attack, but about four individuals, including the driver, managed to escape.
“As we speak, the police and other security personnel have commenced a search operation to rescue the victims and track down the criminals,” the source added.
Confirming the incident, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said he had deployed tactical teams and Divisional Police Officers to the area to lead rescue operations.
“I am in Otukpo now. All my team and DPOs are in the bush, and I am personally heading the operation,” he said.
“What happened was that a Benue Links bus carrying passengers to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums. 14 passengers were kidnapped, while one managed to escape,” the Commissioner added.
Emenari, however, raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the journey, noting that Benue Links does not typically operate night services.
“Benue Links, as a policy, does not usually travel at night. From the information I have, the company had already closed for the day, but the driver, for reasons we are still trying to ascertain, picked up passengers along the road. That is how the incident happened,” he explained.
He assured that investigations are ongoing and reaffirmed the police command’s commitment to rescuing the abducted passengers safely.
What you should know
The abduction highlights the persistent insecurity along major highways in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State.
The Makurdi–Otukpo road has seen increasing cases of attacks, raising concerns for travellers. The involvement of suspected JAMB candidates underscores the vulnerability of students during examination periods.
Security agencies have launched rescue operations, but the incident also raises questions about transport safety protocols, especially night travel policies.
The outcome of ongoing investigations and rescue efforts will be critical in addressing public safety concerns in the region.
