Bandits abduct UTME Candidates, other Passengers along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State

Suspected bandits have abd¥cted passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

According to reports, the victims were travelling in a Benue Links Nigeria Limited bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was att@cked on Wednesday night, April 15.

A source who spoke anonymously said the bus, carrying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 p.m. by suspected bandits, who reportedly took most of the occupants into the bush. 

The passengers were said to be mainly young people travelling to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB 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,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Ifeanyi Emenari, Commissioner of Police in Benue State, said 14 passengers were abd¥cted.

“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and am heading the operation. What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and att@cked by h+odlums and 14 passengers were k+dnapped but one was able to escape,” he said.

He added that investigations had begun into the circumstances surrounding the trip. According to him, the transport company has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.

“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” the police commissioner added.