Gunmen have abducted candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, as well as other passengers along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.
Penpushing reports that a source explained that the victims were said to be travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night, adding that the bus, which was conveying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 pm by suspected bandits who took most of the occupants into the bush.
The source, added that the passengers were mainly young persons heading to Otukpo to sit for the Joint Admission Matriculation (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 (Thursday)’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, adding that one victim escaped and that he was in Otukpo coordinating the rescue operation.
“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.
Penpushing also reports that he stated that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the journey, stressing that the Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours, assuring that police are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued’, he said.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, equally confirmed the incident, pointing out that security operatives had been deployed to the area, stating that as at the time o f writing the report security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims
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