Gunmen have struck along the Makurdi-Otukpo road, Benue State, following the abduction of 18 passengers, including UTME candidates scheduled to sit for the ongoing Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination, JAMB.
The attack occurred on Wednesday night when a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links, travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo, was ambushed by suspected bandits.
Sources disclosed that the vehicle was conveying about 18 passengers at the time of the incident, heightening fears over the safety of commuters and students.
Eyewitness recount the road attack
According to eyewitness accounts, the attack took place at about 8 p.m. near Otukpo, when armed men intercepted the vehicle and forced it to a halt.
The attackers reportedly marched most of the passengers into the surrounding bush, effectively carrying out the abduction without resistance.
A source familiar with the incident said, “Many of the victims were young people travelling to Otukpo to sit for the UTME scheduled for Thursday.”
The development has intensified concerns about recurring abduction cases along the route, which has increasingly become a hotspot for criminal activities.
Growing concerns over safety of UTME candidates
The targeting of UTME candidates in the abduction has sparked outrage and anxiety among parents and guardians, especially as students continue to move across states for examinations.
The road attack underscores persistent security challenges, raising urgent questions about the safety of travellers on major highways.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the abduction, leaving families of the victims in distress.
