Several passengers, including candidates scheduled to sit for the ongoing UTME, were kidnapped by suspected gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway in Benue State.
The attack took place on Wednesday night at about 8 p.m. when a Benue Links bus en route from Makurdi to Otukpo was ambushed. The vehicle was said to be conveying around 18 passengers, largely young individuals travelling for their JAMB examination.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants stopped the bus and forcefully marched many of the passengers into nearby bush paths. The driver and two passengers, however, succeeded in escaping the scene.
Confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, disclosed that 14 passengers were taken while one additional victim later escaped. He added that he is personally coordinating security operations in the area to secure the safe return of those abducted.
Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the trip, noting that Benue Links officially prohibits night travel. Authorities suspect the driver may have picked up passengers outside approved operating hours.
The incident has heightened concerns about the safety of commuters, particularly students, on highways across the country.
