Gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ((UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ((JAMB), along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.
The victims were travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night.
A source familiar with the incident said the bus, conveying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8pm by suspected bandits who forced most of the occupants into the bush.
According to the source, many of the passengers were young people heading to Otukpo to sit for their examination scheduled for 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 (Thursday),” the source said.
However, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, adding that one victim escaped.
“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and am heading the operation,” he said.
“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.”
Emenari said an investigation had begun into the incident, especially the circumstances surrounding the journey, noting that the transport company has a policy against night travel.
“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” he added.
Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the attack, saying security operatives had been deployed to the area.
“It is true, I’m just coming out from a security meeting, and security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims,” Ogiri said.
“The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB.”
The Makurdi-Otukpo road has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, raising fresh concerns over the safety of travellers in the area.
– SUN