UTME student, others abducted by suspected bandits in Benue

Suspected bandits have abducted passengers including candidates of the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.

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Punch reports that the victims were travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night, April 15.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bus, which was conveying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8pm by suspected bandits who took most of the occupants into the bush. According to the source, 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” he said

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, put the number of the abducted victims at 14.

“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and 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

He added that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the journey.

According to him, the Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.

“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” the CP said