Gunmen abduct UTME candidates and travelers on Makurdi–Otukpo Road in Benue State

Gunmen abducted passengers, including candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, from a Benue Links bus traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday night. The vehicle, carrying approximately 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 PM. Most occupants were taken into the bush, though the driver and one passenger reportedly escaped. The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed 14 abductions, with one victim escaping, and stated he is in Otukpo coordinating rescue operations. He noted that the Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours. The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, stating that security operatives have been deployed. Passengers on the Makurdi–Otukpo Road have experienced repeated attacks by gunmen recently.