Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked a Benue Links commercial bus on Wednesday evening and abducted 14 passengers traveling to Otukpo for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 15 along the Benue Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo LGA, Benue State. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants ambushed the bus, robbed the occupants, and led them into the bush.
The bus was conveying about 18 passengers, mostly young people scheduled to sit for JAMB exams on Thursday, and the driver and one passenger escaped. Benue Links General Manager Alexander Fanafa confirmed the incident and said the driver has been arrested and is under investigation for breaching company policy, which bars travel after 6 p.m.
He noted that the driver picked up passengers after official hours when the park manager had closed, adding that he has repeatedly warned drivers against night journeys and that they would be held as first suspects if anything happened.
Otukpo LGA Chairman Prince Maxwell Ogiri confirmed the attack and said security operatives have been deployed into the forest to rescue the victims, who are mainly young boys and girls traveling to write JAMB. Benue State Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Emenari said he is leading the rescue operation in Otukpo and confirmed that 14 passengers were kidnapped while one escaped.
He explained that the command is investigating why the driver picked up passengers after official hours against company policy, and assured that officers are on the ground to ensure the victims are rescued.
