Gunmen have abducted at least 14 passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a Benue Links bus conveying about 18 passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo was ambushed near Otukpo. The victims were reportedly travelling to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination scheduled for Thursday.

According to sources, the attackers intercepted the vehicle around 8pm and forced most of the occupants into the bush. Two individuals, including the driver, managed to escape during the нападение.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed that 14 passengers were kidnapped, noting that one victim escaped. He said he was personally coordinating rescue efforts in Otukpo alongside other security personnel.

“One Benue Links bus carrying passengers was stopped and attacked by hoodlums… 14 passengers were kidnapped but one escaped,” the police commissioner said.

He added that investigations had commenced, particularly into why the vehicle was travelling at night, despite the transport company’s policy against night journeys.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the нападение, stating that security operatives had been deployed into nearby forests to rescue the victims. He noted that most of those abducted were young people heading to write the UTME.

The attack highlights ongoing security concerns along the Makurdi–Otukpo corridor, where travellers have reportedly faced repeated assaults by gunmen in recent months.