Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Armed men have abducted several passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, following an attack on a commercial bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a Benue Links transport bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo was intercepted by suspected armed criminals near Otukpo. The vehicle was reportedly carrying about 18 passengers, many of them young people heading to take the examination scheduled for Thursday.
According to initial accounts from eyewitnesses and local sources, the attackers stopped the vehicle at around 8 pm and ordered passengers into the surrounding bush. Two individuals, including the driver and one passenger, managed to escape during the assault and raised the alarm.
A source familiar with the incident said the victims were largely students travelling to sit for the UTME, raising further concern over the safety of candidates participating in nationwide examinations, particularly in regions experiencing persistent insecurity.
However, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, provided a slightly different account, confirming that 14 passengers were abducted while one person successfully escaped. He stated that he was personally in Otukpo coordinating rescue operations alongside tactical teams and divisional police officers deployed to the area.
Security forces have since launched a search-and-rescue operation in surrounding forests, with the aim of locating and freeing the abducted passengers. The police chief described the operation as active and ongoing, noting that all available resources had been mobilised to ensure the safe return of the victims.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident after a security briefing, stating that security operatives had been deployed to the area immediately after the attack was reported. He added that most of the victims were young men and women travelling specifically to sit for the UTME examination.
Authorities have also begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the trip, particularly in relation to transport safety protocols. Officials noted that the transport company involved, Benue Links, has a policy discouraging night travel. However, preliminary findings suggest that the bus continued operations beyond regular hours, a factor being examined as part of the broader investigation.
The attack adds to a growing pattern of insecurity along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway, a route that has witnessed repeated cases of kidnapping and armed assaults in recent months. Residents and commuters have increasingly raised concerns about the safety of travellers, particularly students and other vulnerable groups who rely on intercity transport services.
Security analysts say the latest incident highlights persistent gaps in highway security across parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region, where armed groups continue to exploit poorly monitored forest corridors and limited patrol coverage. These attacks have disrupted movement, commerce, and educational activities, particularly during sensitive periods such as national examinations.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, police authorities have described the attackers as armed criminals operating in the area. Investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators and determine whether the incident is connected to wider kidnapping networks operating across state boundaries.
The police command has assured the public that efforts are underway to secure the release of the abducted passengers. Officials have also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, while reinforcing calls for improved coordination between security agencies and local communities.
The incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of students travelling long distances for national examinations, with education stakeholders calling for improved protection measures, especially during major examination periods. Parents and guardians have also expressed anxiety over the safety of candidates, particularly those from rural and high-risk areas.
As rescue operations continue, attention remains focused on the fate of the abducted passengers, many of whom are believed to be young UTME candidates whose academic plans have now been disrupted by the attack.
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