‘We were 17 kidnapped and taken to Amla Forest camp,’ — Escapee
‘We are on top of the situation,’ — Police Commissioner
By Ekani Olikita
Tears and anxiety have gripped communities in central Nigeria’s Benue State following the abduction of young Christian passengers travelling for exams and Police recruitment.
Most of the victims are students heading for university entrance examinations and a police recruitment exercise
The victims, aged 18 to 20, were seized on the evening of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road when about armed Fulani Ethnic Militia intercepted their commercial bus near Taraku junction. The vehicle, an 18-seat Toyota Hiace operated by the state-owned Benue Links transport company, reportedly was forced to a stop before the passengers were marched into nearby bushland.
Local accounts indicate that 17 people were taken, though police officials say 14. The discrepancy remains unresolved as search operations continue.
Students and Job Seekers Targeted
According to preliminary reports, 14 of the passengers were travelling to sit for Nigeria’s university entrance exam, widely known as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination (JAMB). Three others were returning home after participating in a police-recruitment event in Makurdi, the state capital.
The attack highlights growing fears over insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Fulani kidnappings for ransom have increasingly targeted Christian commuters, students and rural residents.
Escapee Recounts Ordeal
One of the victims, identified as Stephen Ochoche, managed to escape hours after the abduction and recounted his experience in a phone interview with TruthNigeria.
“We were 17, aged between 18 and 20 in the bus. The kidnappers were Fulani, as I heard them speaking Fufulde. They were about 20. They stopped us and took us into the bush,”
“They forced us to walk barefoot to a camp in Amla Forest. We even saw other kidnapped victims already there,” he told TruthNigeria.
Ochoche said he fled around 3:30 a.m. under the cover of darkness.
“I walked for about 10 miles through the forest until I reached Otukpo Nobi village near Otukpo, he said.
His account also suggested the presence of organized camps in the area, reinforcing longstanding forensic theories about entrenched kidnapping networks operating in forested parts of Benue South.
Resident Speaks from Taraku
Msughter Terna, resident of Taraku, described the incident as part of a troubling pattern.
“Kidnappings by Fulani Militia are becoming too frequent. That road is no longer safe, especially at night,” Terna said.
“Our children are afraid to travel, even for something as important as exams.”
Local Authorities Confirm Incident
The chairman of Otukpo County (Local Government Area), Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the abduction and said authorities had been alerted.
“This is a very difficult time for our people. Security agencies have been notified, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims. One person has already escaped”, Ogiri told TruthNigeria.
Otukpo, a major town in southern Benue and a hub for the Idoma ethnic group, has witnessed a series of high-profile kidnappings in recent years, particularly along major transit routes including: the abduction of 20 Catholic medical students in August, 2024, and the abduction of another 20 passengers from a Benue Links Bus in June, 2024
Police Response
Benue State Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Emenari said security forces have launched an operation to locate the victims and apprehend the attackers
“I am personally on ground with my team, combing the surrounding bushes,” he said. “The bus was attacked, and passengers were taken. We are doing everything possible to rescue them”, Ifeanyi said
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether contact has been made with the kidnappers or if ransom demands have been issued.
Rising Kidnappings in Nigeria’s Middle Belt
Kidnapping for ransom has become a major security challenge across central Nigeria, with armed groups frequently targeting highways and rural communities. Victims are often held in forest camps while negotiations for their release take place.
TruthNigeria had in October 2025, reported the establishment of several camps by Fulani Kidnappers in Benue South including, the notorious Amla Kidnappers’ Camp in Otukpo County
Security analysts say the trend is fueled by weak law enforcement in remote areas and the profitability of ransom payments.
Pablo Agada, Commander of Civil Protection Guards in charge of Benue South, warned that the situation could worsen without sustained intervention.
“These kidnappings are not random, they are organized and economically motivated,” Agada said.
“Without dismantling the forest camps and improving intelligence gathering, these groups will continue to operate with relative ease,” he told TruthNigeria
Community in Fear
For families of the abducted victims, the hours since the attack have been filled with uncertainty and fear. Many are still waiting for news of their loved ones as security operations continue.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger protection along major highways in Benue State and across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where travelers increasingly face the risk of abduction.
As search efforts intensify, residents say the safety of young people pursuing education and employment opportunities must become a national priority.
Ekani Olikita is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.