Two passengers have escaped after gunmen abducted travellers heading for their UTME exam in Benue State.
Benue State Police Command confirmed that two victims escaped from kidnappers after a commercial bus carrying students and other passengers was attacked in Benue State.
The victims were travelling to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) when gunmen reportedly intercepted the vehicle on Wednesday night.
According to eyewitness accounts, the Benue Links bus was carrying about 18 passengers, most of them young candidates heading to their examination centres.
During the attack, the assailants allegedly robbed the passengers before forcing several of them into the bush. Police later confirmed that two people managed to escape.
Authorities also said one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, while security operatives continue search-and-rescue efforts for the remaining victims.
The General Manager of Benue Links, Alexander Fanafa, said the driver is currently under investigation for violating the company’s rule against travelling after 6:00 p.m.
He explained that the bus reportedly departed after official hours, despite internal safety policies aimed at reducing risks linked to night travel.
The Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident and said security agencies had been mobilised to track the kidnappers.
Kidnappings along highways remain a serious security challenge in parts of Nigeria, often affecting students, workers and commercial travellers.
Police say efforts are ongoing to rescue all remaining passengers and bring those responsible to justice.
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