Gunmen Abduct UTME Candidates, 12 Others in Benue Bus Attack Along Makurdi–Otukpo Road

Police launch rescue operation as security concerns mount on notorious highway.

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By A1 News International | Abuja, Nigeria

Gunmen have abducted several passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were reportedly travelling to Otukpo to sit for their examinations when their vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night.

The incident involved a Benue Links bus conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo, which was ambushed by suspected bandits around 8:00 pm near Otukpo.

According to police authorities, 14 passengers were abducted during the attack, while one victim managed to escape.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the development, stating that he was personally leading a rescue operation in the area.

“I am in Otukpo now with my team. The bus was attacked by hoodlums, and 14 passengers were kidnapped. One person escaped,” he said.

Sources indicated that many of the victims were young candidates travelling to participate in the UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Two individuals, including the driver, reportedly escaped the нападение.

The police said investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding the journey.

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Emenari noted that Benue Links has a standing policy against night travel, but preliminary findings suggest the driver may have picked up passengers outside official operating hours.

Meanwhile, security operatives have been deployed into surrounding forests to track the attackers and secure the release of the victims.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the abduction and said coordinated efforts are underway to rescue those taken.

“It is true. Security operatives have moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims,” he said.

The Makurdi–Otukpo road has recorded repeated нападения in recent months, raising concerns over the safety of commuters along the route.

Police Lead Search as Victims Taken Into Forest

Rising Attacks on Makurdi–Otukpo Road

The abduction highlights persistent insecurity on major highways and its direct impact on education and youth mobility. With students now among victims, the incident raises urgent concerns about the safety of candidates during national examinations.