Benue Kidnap: Two abducted UTME passengers escape in Benue

Two passengers abducted by gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State have escaped from their captors and are now in safe hands with the police. Security agencies have stepped up operations to free the remaining victims of the attack on a Benue Links bus.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the state-owned transport company’s Toyota Hiace bus came under ambush at the Benue Burnt Bricks axis in Otukpo Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses said the attackers stopped the vehicle around 8pm, robbed passengers and marched most of them into the bush.

Benue State Police Command spokesperson SP Udeme Edet confirmed that 14 passengers were taken during the raid. She said tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, have been deployed alongside other security agencies to track the gunmen. “The Command has deployed several tactical teams and is working with other agencies to ensure the safe return of the victims,” Edet stated.

NaijaChoice News gathered that many of those on board were young people heading for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, though authorities later clarified that not all passengers were UTME candidates. Two persons, including the driver, initially escaped the scene before the latest breakout by the two abducted victims.

The police and Benue Links management have placed the driver in custody. Company General Manager Alexander Fanafa said the driver violated policy by operating an unauthorised night journey without a proper manifest, putting passengers at risk.

Families of the abducted passengers have raised the alarm, with one parent reporting that two teenage brothers travelling for the examination were among those still missing. The development has sparked fresh worry over safety on major roads in the state during peak academic periods.

The North Central Development Commission condemned the attack and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all victims. The commission described the incident as a direct threat to education and the future of young Nigerians in the region.

Security operatives continue search operations in the forests around Otukpo. Authorities insist that every effort is being made to rescue the remaining hostages and bring the perpetrators to justice.