Gunmen Intercept Benue Bus, Abduct 15 Passengers Including UTME Candidates

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have intercepted a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links Nigeria Limited, a state-owned transport company and abducted 15 passengers on the Makurdi-Otukpo Road in Otukpo local government area of the state.

LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that one of the passengers managed to escape.

A resident of Otukpo working near Benue Links, Otukpo Park, Aba Gabriel, told our correspondent that the incident happened on Wednesday evening, when bandits emerged from the bush, shot the moving bus and marched the passengers into the nearby bush.

Gabriel said Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates were among the victims. “We heard from officials of Benue Links Park here in Otukpo that UTME candidates who were coming to Otukpo to sit for their JAMB examination today, Thursday, were among the abductees”

Confirming the incident on the telephone with our correspondent, Benue Links Information Officer, Daniel Ehi, said, “Yes, the incident happened. Fifteen passengers were abducted, and among them, one person escaped. We will issue an official statement later over the incident”, he said.

In addition, the General Manager of Benue Links, Alexander Fanafa, confirmed the incident but said the bus driver was being interrogated at the Otukpo police station for violating the company’s safety policy against travelling beyond 6:00 pm.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, while confirming the attack, said, “I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush, and I am heading the operation. 14 passengers were kidnapped, but one was able to escape,” he said.