By Deborah Nnamdi
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links, abducting several passengers, including candidates travelling to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State.
The incident 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.
Sources said the bus, which was conveying young passengers heading to Otukpo for their examination scheduled for today, Thursday, was ambushed by the assailants, who robbed the occupants before taking them into the bush.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that about 18 passengers were on board at the time of the attack, noting that the victims were mostly young men and women travelling for the UTME. The witness added that the driver and one passenger managed to escape during the нападение.
The General Manager of Benue Links, Alexander Fanafa, confirmed the incident and revealed that the driver is currently being interrogated by the police for allegedly violating the company’s policy against traveling beyond 6:00 p.m.
Fanafa stated that the driver embarked on the trip after official hours, despite prior warnings to staff against night journeys, adding that drivers would be held accountable for any breaches of safety regulations.
Also confirming the development, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Maxwell Ogiri, said security operatives had been deployed to the area to rescue the victims. He noted that the abducted passengers were mainly students travelling to write the UTME.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were kidnapped during the attack, while one person escaped.
Emenari disclosed that he was already in Otukpo leading the rescue operation alongside other security personnel, adding that an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the journey, particularly the driver’s decision to pick up passengers after official hours.
He assured that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe release of the victims.
