BENUE, Nigeria – Gunmen have abducted at least 14 passengers, including candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Emenari on Thursday said the victims were travelling in a Benue Links bus when the attack occurred on Wednesday night.
One passenger reportedly escaped, while security operatives have launched a rescue operation. Gunmen Abduct UTME Candidates in Benue Attack
“I am on ground coordinating efforts to ensure the victims are rescued,” Emenari said.
Authorities confirmed that the bus violated a no-night-travel policy, which is now under investigation.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges along the corridor.
Gom Mirian is a Nigerian journalist and editor at Africa Health Report (AHR), with more than a decade of experience covering health, development, humanitarian issues and public-interest affairs across Nigeria and Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has additional training in data analytics, combining evidence-driven reporting with compelling human-centred storytelling. Her work examines the intersection of health, policy, economics, technology and social change, with a particular interest in how global decisions and emerging challenges affect communities across Africa. Her journalism has received professional recognition, including a Nestlé Award nomination for human-interest reporting. Follow her on X @mirian_linus.