The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Enemari, has confirmed the abduction of 14 passengers, mostly candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in the state.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped while travelling on a Benue Links commercial bus from Makurdi to Otukpo Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the candidates were scheduled to sit for their examinations on Thursday, but the incident occurred between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
The bus, which was conveying about 16 passengers—mainly young men and women—was ambushed by armed attackers along the route. Reports indicate that only the driver and one passenger managed to escape.
Confirming the incident, Mr Enemari said he is personally leading a rescue operation in Otukpo.
“What happened was that a Benue Links bus carrying passengers to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums. Fourteen passengers were kidnapped, but one managed to escape,” he said.
“I’m in Otukpo now. My team and all DPOs are in the bush, and I am heading the operation,” the commissioner added.
He also noted that the bus may have been operating outside approved hours.
“Benue Links, as a policy, does not usually operate at night. From what we gathered, official operations had closed, but the driver, for reasons we are still investigating, picked up passengers along the road. When he got here, the incident occurred,” he explained.
The police commissioner assured that security operatives are working to secure the safe rescue of the abducted passengers.
“We are on the ground to make sure the victims are rescued,” he said.
Also confirming the attack, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were heading to sit for their JAMB examinations when the attackers struck.
“The victims are young people coming to Otukpo to write JAMB. Security agents have been deployed, and efforts are ongoing to rescue them,” Mr Ogiri said.
