Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
What was meant to be a routine journey to sit for an examination ended in terror on Wednesday evening, as armed men ambushed a passenger bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State, abducting no fewer than 14 travellers.
Many of the victims are feared to be candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), reportedly heading to Otukpo for their scheduled examination when their trip was violently cut short.
The attack occurred at about 7 p.m. when the fully loaded 18-seater Benue Links bus was intercepted a few kilometres from Otukpo town.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants halted the vehicle and forcefully herded passengers off the road and into a nearby forest, sparking panic and confusion.
A local source revealed that the operation was swift and well-coordinated, leaving little room for resistance.
“The bus was filled with passengers, many of them young people believed to be students. They were all marched into the bush by the gunmen. It happened so fast,” the source said.
Amid the chaos, a handful of passengers—including the driver—reportedly managed to escape, raising the alarm and prompting an urgent security response.
Confirming the development, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Emenari, said he had relocated to the area and was personally overseeing a large-scale rescue operation involving tactical units and Divisional Police Officers.
“I am currently in Otukpo coordinating the operation. Our men are already combing the forests to locate and rescue the victims,” he said.
The police chief, however, raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the journey, noting that the transport company does not officially operate at night.
“Benue Links does not run night services. From preliminary findings, the company had closed for the day, but the driver reportedly picked up passengers along the road. We are investigating why that happened,” Emenari explained.
While assuring the public of ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted passengers, the Commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has once again heightened concerns over the safety of travellers on Nigerian highways, particularly in the evening hours, as families of the victims await news with growing anxiety.
