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Suspected gunmen have abducted several passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State. The victims were travelling in a commercial bus operated by the state-owned Benue Links transport company when the attackers struck on Wednesday evening, ambushing the vehicle and forcing most of the occupants into the bush. 
Reports indicate that the bus was carrying between 16 and 18 passengers, many of them young students heading to Otukpo to sit for their exams. While some sources initially suggested that up to 17 persons were abducted, the Benue State Police Command confirmed that at least 14 passengers were taken, with one person managing to escape during the attack. 
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., when the gunmen intercepted the bus, robbed the passengers, and marched them into a nearby forest. Security officials say the victims were mainly UTME candidates, raising concerns about their safety and the disruption of their examinations. 
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the incident and disclosed that he is personally leading a rescue operation in the area alongside tactical teams and divisional officers. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the abducted victims, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend those responsible for the attack. 
