Gunmen abducted at least 14 passengers, including UTME candidates, in Benue State on Wednesday evening as the nationwide exam began.
The attackers stopped a commercial bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The bus carried 16 passengers, most of them young people heading to write the exam. Only the driver and one passenger escaped.
Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were on their way to examination centres when the attack happened. He confirmed that security agents have started a rescue operation.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Enemari, said he is leading the search in the area. He added that officers are working in nearby forests to find the victims.
Enemari said the driver picked up passengers at night, against company policy. He noted that the police are investigating why the trip took place.
JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, urged caution. He said officials have not yet confirmed the report and described it as unverified for now.
Security agencies say efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing.
