April 16, (THEWILL) — Panic and outrage have trailed the abduction of 14 passengers by armed gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway in Benue State, in yet another brazen attack underscoring growing insecurity on Nigeria’s road corridors.
The victims, who were travelling in a commercial vehicle operated by Benue Links, were seized on Wednesday evening when heavily armed assailants ambushed the bus and forced occupants into a nearby forest.
While initial reports suggested that all the victims were candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), police authorities have clarified that the abducted persons were passengers on the vehicle, though some are believed to be students travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
A source familiar with the incident said the gunmen operated unchallenged, halting the 18-seater bus and herding passengers into the bush in a swift and coordinated operation.
“They stopped the vehicle and took the passengers away. Many of them were young people, including students, but not all were JAMB candidates”, the source disclosed.
At least one passenger reportedly escaped from the scene and raised the alarm, triggering an immediate response from security agencies.
Confirming the incident, Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, stressing that a full-scale rescue operation had been launched.
“A Benue Links bus carrying passengers to Otukpo was attacked by hoodlums, and 14 passengers were kidnapped”, the commissioner said.
In a rare show of direct field leadership, the police chief disclosed that he had relocated to the area and was personally coordinating search efforts.
“I am in Otukpo now. All my teams and Divisional Police Officers are in the bush, and I am personally leading the operation”, he stated.
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