Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial vehicle belonging to Benue Links, abducting several candidates travelling to Otukpo for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday along the Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Sources said the attackers intercepted the bus, robbed the passengers, and took them into the bush. An eyewitness revealed that the vehicle was conveying about 18 passengers, mostly young people heading to sit for the UTME.
This adds to recent cases of insecurity facing the North and Nigeria generally
“The passengers were mainly young persons heading 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 (Thursday),” the source said.
The General Manager of Benue Links, Alexander Fanafa, confirmed the incident, stating that the driver is currently under interrogation for violating the company’s policy against travelling after 6 p.m.
“As I speak with you, the driver has been arrested and is under investigation for traveling against company directive. I have warned all drivers to stop night journeys, as they would be held as first suspects if anything unfortunate happens,” he said.
Fanafa added that the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours, despite the closure of operations by the park manager.
The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the attack, noting that security operatives have been deployed to rescue the victims.
“It is true, I’m just coming out from a security meeting, and security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims.
“The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB,” Ogiri said.
However, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, while one managed to escape.
“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush, and I am heading the operation,” he said.
“What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums, and 14 passengers were kidnapped, but one was able to escape.”
Emenari added that investigations have commenced, particularly into why the driver embarked on the journey at night, contrary to company policy, while assuring that efforts are underway to rescue the victims.
