A routine journey turned into a nightmare along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State, as armed men abducted no fewer than 14 passengers, many believed to be candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The victims were reportedly travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday evening to sit for their examinations when the incident occurred.
According to sources, the ill-fated vehicle—an 18-seater Benue Links bus—was ambushed just a few kilometres from Otukpo town at about 7 p.m. The attackers intercepted the bus, halted its movement, and forcefully marched the passengers into a nearby forest, leaving behind a trail of fear and uncertainty.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the bus was fully loaded at the time of the attack. However, about four individuals, including the driver, managed to escape the ordeal. “The passengers were all marched into the forest. From what we gathered, most of them were students coming to Otukpo to write JAMB,” a local source disclosed.
Security agencies have since launched an intensive rescue operation. The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed that tactical teams and Divisional Police Officers have been deployed to comb the surrounding forests in a bid to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
“I am in Otukpo now. All my team and DPOs are in the bush, and I am personally heading the operation,” Emenari stated, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of the situation. He further confirmed that 14 passengers were kidnapped, while one individual escaped.
The Commissioner also raised concerns about the circumstances that led to the journey, noting that Benue Links does not operate night services. Preliminary findings suggest that the driver may have picked up passengers after official closing hours, a decision that inadvertently exposed them to danger.
As families anxiously await news of their loved ones, the incident has once again highlighted the growing insecurity on Nigerian highways, particularly in regions already grappling with recurring violence. The abduction not only disrupts the academic aspirations of the affected students but also deepens public concern over safety in transit.
Authorities have assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safe rescue of the victims, even as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the attack.