Gunmen have abducted several passengers, including candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, following an attack on a commercial bus in Benue State. The incident occurred along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road when a Benue Links vehicle conveying passengers was intercepted by suspected bandits on Wednesday night.
Sources said the bus, which carried about 18 passengers mostly young people travelling to sit for the JAMB examination was attacked around 8 p.m., with the assailants taking many of the occupants into the bush.
Police authorities confirmed that at least 14 passengers were abducted, while a few individuals, including the driver, managed to escape. The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said he was leading a coordinated rescue operation in the area alongside other security personnel.
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Local government officials also confirmed the attack, noting that security operatives had been deployed into surrounding forests to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release. Preliminary findings suggest the journey may have violated an existing restriction on night travel by the transport company, a factor now under investigation by authorities.
The Makurdi–Otukpo corridor has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, reinforcing concerns over the safety of travellers and the vulnerability of students during examination periods.
The latest abduction adds to a growing pattern of insecurity in parts of the country, where armed groups continue to target highways and civilian transport routes.
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