The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of several passengers, including students scheduled to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, after gunmen intercepted a commercial vehicle along the Makurdi to Otukpo Road on Wednesday night. The victims were reportedly traveling in a Benue Links bus from the state capital toward Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked by suspected bandits who forced the occupants into a nearby forest.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed on Thursday that 14 passengers were taken into captivity, although one victim managed to escape shortly after the encounter. The police chief stated that he had personally relocated to Otukpo to coordinate a massive rescue operation involving various tactical teams and Divisional Police Officers who have been deployed into the bush to track down the kidnappers and ensure the safe return of the victims.
Preliminary investigations into the incident revealed that the bus was intercepted near Otukpo at approximately 8:00 pm. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the majority of the passengers were young men and women who were heading to Otukpo to participate in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination scheduled for Thursday morning. While the driver and one other passenger were able to evade the attackers, the remaining 14 individuals were led away at gunpoint.
The state police command raised concerns over the circumstances of the journey, noting that the management of the state owned transport company, Benue Links, maintains a strict policy against night travel. The Commissioner of Police noted that the driver allegedly picked up the passengers after official hours, a breach that is now forming a part of the ongoing administrative and criminal investigation into the tragedy. He assured the public that the command is doing everything within its power to rescue the students and other travelers without any harm coming to them.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the development following a security meeting with relevant stakeholders. He expressed deep sadness over the fact that the victims were primarily students on their way to further their education, adding that security operatives have been moved in large numbers into the forest surrounding the area of the attack.
The Makurdi to Otukpo Road has seen a rise in criminal activity in recent months, with travelers frequently expressing anxiety over the safety of the route. This latest incident has heightened fears among residents and parents whose children are participating in the national examinations. The police have urged members of the public to remain calm and provide any useful information that could assist the rescue teams currently combing the forest for the abducted candidates and other passengers.
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