The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of several passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), following an attack by suspected gunmen in Otukpo.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links was ambushed along the Benue Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo Local Government Area between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sources said the attackers intercepted the vehicle, robbed passengers of their belongings, and subsequently forced them into the bush.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bus was conveying about 18 passengers, mostly young people travelling to Otukpo for the UTME scheduled for Thursday.
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“The passengers were mainly candidates heading to write the JAMB examination. The attack happened around 8 p.m. Two persons—the driver and one passenger—managed to escape,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, while one person escaped.
“I am currently in Otukpo with my team and divisional police officers. We are already in the bush, leading the operation,” he said.
“What happened was that a Benue Links bus carrying passengers to Otukpo was attacked by hoodlums. Fourteen passengers were kidnapped, but one escaped.”
Emenari said a full-scale rescue operation is underway, with security operatives deployed to track down the suspects and secure the victims’ release.
He added that the command has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly why the trip was undertaken at night.
“Benue Links has a policy against night travel. From available information, the official trips had already ended, but the driver, for reasons we are still investigating, picked passengers along the road. Unfortunately, the incident occurred thereafter.
“We are, however, on ground to ensure the victims are rescued,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the management of Benue Links has also confirmed the incident, noting that the driver is being investigated for allegedly violating the company’s directive prohibiting night travel.