Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links, the Benue State-owned transport company, and abducted several passengers, including candidates traveling for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The incident occurred on Wednesday night, April 15, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., around the Burnt Bricks area along the Otukpo route in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants stopped the vehicle, robbed passengers of their valuables, and forcefully marched them into a nearby forest. The bus was reportedly conveying about 18 passengers, most of whom were young men and women heading to Otukpo to sit for their JAMB examinations scheduled for Thursday.
It was gathered that only the driver and one passenger were able to escape during the attack.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of Benue Links, Mr. Alexander Fanafa, disclosed that the driver has been arrested and is currently being questioned by police authorities in Otukpo for violating the company’s directive against night travel.
According to him, the transport company has a strict policy prohibiting journeys beyond 6:00 p.m., warning that any driver who flouts the rule would be treated as a key suspect in the event of any security incident.
He further explained that the driver reportedly loaded passengers after official working hours when the park manager had already closed operations.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the attack, stating that security operatives have been deployed into the surrounding forests to rescue the abducted victims.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, also confirmed the incident but gave a different figure, stating that 14 passengers were abducted, while one person escaped. He added that he is currently in Otukpo personally leading the rescue operation alongside other security teams.
The police commissioner said investigations have begun to determine the circumstances surrounding the trip, especially as the transport company is known to restrict night journeys.
Security agencies have continued efforts to locate the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the abducted passengers.
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