Gunmen on Wednesday April 15 ambushed a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links transport company and kidnapped about 7 UTME candidates traveling to Otukpo to write their examinations. The incident was reported to have happened between 7pm and 8pm along Benue Burnt Bricks in Otukpo local government area of the State. The gunmen are said to have robbed the passengers of their belongings before taking them away into the bush.
An eye witness told reporters that there were about 18 passengers on the bus that was waylaid and that the kidnapped victims were mainly young boys and girls going to their UTME examination centres but the driver escaped alongside one other passenger. “The passengers were mainly young persons heading to Otukpo to sit for the 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)”.
General Manager of Benue Links, Mr Alexander Fanafa, confirmed that the unfortunate incident did happen and that the driver is currently under interrogation. “As I speak with you, the driver has been arrested and is under investigation for traveling against company directive. I have warned all drivers to stop night journeys, as they would be held as first suspects if anything unfortunate happens.” he said.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, also confirmed the incident saying 14 were confirmed to have been kidnapped and his team are currently trying to rescue them from the bush.
“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush, and I 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 We know that Benue Links has a policy and don’t usually drive at night. So from what I got, they have already closed, but the driver, for reasons best known to him which we are still trying to find out, picked passengers along the road, and when he came here, the story you have is what we are having. But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued.
Nigeria is currently rampant with cases of kidnappers and abductors especially in the Northern parts.
