Gunmen abduct passengers, including JAMB candidates, on Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue as security forces launch rescue operation
Thursday, April 16, 2026, was thrown into panic after gunmen abducted passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in a violent nighttime attack.
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The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a Benue Links bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo was intercepted near Otukpo at about 8 pm by suspected armed bandits, according to security sources and eyewitness accounts.
The bus was reportedly conveying about 18 passengers, most of whom were young men and women heading to Otukpo to participate in the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers forced several passengers into the bush during the raid, while two victims, including the driver and one passenger, managed to escape the scene.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted while one escaped, adding that security operatives had been deployed to the area for rescue operations.
The police chief stated that he was personally coordinating efforts in Otukpo alongside tactical teams and divisional police officers, as searches continued in surrounding forest areas believed to be the suspects’ hideout.
He also noted that preliminary investigations were ongoing into the circumstances of the journey, adding that the transport company reportedly discourages night travel, though the vehicle allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.
Local authorities in Otukpo confirmed the attack, with Chairman Maxwell Ogiri stating that security operatives had been mobilised immediately following an emergency meeting with security stakeholders.
The latest Benue JAMB candidates abducted incident adds to growing concerns over repeated attacks along the Makurdi–Otukpo corridor, a route that has witnessed multiple cases of kidnapping in recent months.
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Security agencies have vowed to intensify rescue operations as families of the victims await updates amid rising anxiety across the state.
