The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of 14 passengers, mainly Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates en route from Makurdi to Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the abduction to newsmen on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Emenari said the passengers who were travelling on a Benue Links bus were abducted on Wednesday night.
Emenari disclosed that he was in Otukpo and had mobilised a team of policemen in the area, including Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), in a bid to rescue the victims.
He stated that out of the 14 passengers, one was able to escape.
The police commissioner stated: “I’m in Otukpo with my team, and DPOs are here in the bush, and I am heading the operation.
Gunmen kidnap UTME candidates, other travellers on Benue highway
“What happened was that a 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 that they don’t usually drive at night. So from what I got, they had already closed for the day, but the driver, for reasons best known to him, still moved in the night.
“We are still trying to find out why he moved in the night and the passengers he picked up along the road.
“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued.”
