Gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.
The victims were travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday night when suspected bandits intercepted the vehicle.
A source said the bus, carrying about 18 passengers, was attacked around 8pm near Otukpo, and most occupants were taken into the bush.
The passengers were mainly young people heading to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday. Two people, including the driver and one passenger, reportedly escaped.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed that 14 passengers were abducted while one escaped, adding that he was in Otukpo coordinating rescue operations.
He said investigations had begun into the circumstances surrounding the journey, noting that authorities were already in the bush searching for the victims.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, saying security operatives had been deployed to the area for rescue efforts.
Passengers along the Makurdi–Otukpo road have continued to face repeated attacks in recent months, raising fresh concerns over insecurity on the route.