Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have abducted 14 passengers travelling in a Benue Links bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road in Benue State, with several of the victims reported to be candidates heading to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
The attack occurred on Wednesday night, April 15, 2026, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., when the bus conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo was intercepted by armed assailants who whisked most of the occupants into the bush.
A source disclosed that the bus, which was carrying about 18 passengers, was attacked near Otukpo, with only the driver and one passenger managing to escape.
“The victims are mainly young men and women travelling to Otukpo to write the JAMB examination,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were mostly students and that security operatives had been deployed to rescue them.
Also confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said he was personally leading the rescue operation.
“I am in Otukpo now with my men in the bush, coordinating the operation. Fourteen passengers were kidnapped, while one managed to escape,” he said.
The police boss explained that the vehicle was attacked after being stopped by the gunmen, adding that investigations had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the journey.
Emenari noted that Benue Links does not operate night services, suggesting that the driver may have picked up passengers after official hours, contrary to company policy.
“From what we gathered, operations had closed, but the driver picked passengers along the road. That is how the incident occurred,” he said.
He assured that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims, while investigations continue.
The latest incident underscores growing security concerns along the Makurdi–Otukpo corridor, which has witnessed repeated attacks on travellers in recent months, raising fears over the safety of commuters and students during the ongoing examination period.
