Several candidates travelling to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have reportedly been abducted by suspected kidnappers in Benue State, with conflicting accounts emerging over the exact number of victims.
The incident involved a commercial vehicle operated by Benue Links, the state-owned transport company, which came under attack while en route to Otukpo.
Reports indicated that about 17 candidates were initially feared kidnapped. However, the Benue State Commissioner of Police provided a lower figure, stating that 14 passengers were taken, with one person managing to escape.
The attack occurred between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, along the Benue Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo Local Government Area.
According to available information, the gunmen intercepted the vehicle, dispossessed passengers of their belongings, and subsequently forced them into the surrounding forest.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said the bus was conveying about 18 passengers, mostly young people heading to Otukpo for their examination scheduled the following day.
“The passengers were mainly young persons heading to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday.
“Two people, the driver and one passenger, managed to escape.
”Incidentally, the passengers were mainly young men and women who travelled to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for today (Thursday),” the source said.
The General Manager of Benue Links, Mr. Alexander Fanafa, confirmed the attack and disclosed that the driver is currently in police custody.
He explained that the driver allegedly violated company regulations by embarking on the journey after official hours.
“As I speak with you, the driver has been arrested and is under investigation for traveling against company directive.
” I have warned all drivers to stop night journeys, as they would be held as first suspects if anything unfortunate happens,” Fanafa said.
He further revealed that the driver had taken the vehicle out after the park had officially closed and picked up passengers bound for Otukpo, a decision that ultimately led to the incident.
Also confirming the development, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, said the attack took place within the same timeframe and assured that efforts were underway to rescue the victims.
“It is true, I’m just coming out from a security meeting, and security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims.
“The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB,” Ogiri said.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, stated that he was personally leading the rescue operation in Otukpo alongside other senior officers.
“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush, and I am heading the operation.
“What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums, and 14 passengers were kidnapped, but one was able to escape,” he said.
The police commissioner added that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly why the driver operated outside approved hours.
“We know that Benue Links has a policy and don’t usually drive at night.
”So from what I got, they have already closed, but the driver, for reasons best known to him which we are still trying to find out, picked passengers along the road, and when he came here, the story you have is what we are having.
“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” Emenari stated.
