UTME Candidates Abducted on Way to Examination in Benue
Several candidates travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination were abducted by gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State, highlighting fresh concerns over the safety of students during examination periods.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a Benue Links bus conveying passengers to Otukpo was intercepted by armed men. The victims, mostly young candidates scheduled to write the examination on Thursday, were taken into the bush.
The vehicle reportedly had about 18 passengers on board at the time of the attack. While a few individuals managed to escape, security authorities confirmed that 14 passengers were abducted.
One of the victims regained freedom shortly after the incident, while the driver was also said to have escaped.
Security operatives have since launched a coordinated rescue operation in the area, with officers deployed into nearby forests to locate and secure the release of the victims.
Preliminary findings indicate that the bus may have embarked on the journey outside approved travel hours. Transport authorities in the state maintain a policy restricting night travel, a measure intended to reduce exposure to such attacks.
The Makurdi–Otukpo road has witnessed repeated cases of abductions in recent months, raising ongoing concerns about the safety of commuters.
The incident also underscores the challenges faced by examination candidates who often travel long distances due to limited availability of CBT centres. For many, accessing examination venues now involves not only financial strain but significant security risks.
Efforts to rescue the abducted candidates are ongoing.
